Everyone loves beautiful carpeting. It adds warmth and dimension to our homes and frames furnishings. It keeps our families comfortable and adds style and grace to a room. But with our modern busy lives, maintaining a clean carpet can be another task in a busy schedule, so helpful cleaning and maintenance tips are always welcome.
The most basic and prevalent carpet culprit is mud and dirt. Our homes are places of immense activity with children, spouses, visitors and pets. Everyone who comes in the front door brings the weather with them, and mud can be a main source of carpet staining. A little time and attention and these few recommendations will help keep your carpet fresh and your home a welcoming place.
Ounce of Prevention
The easiest method of preventing carpet stains is to stop them right at the front door before they hit the carpet. Weather is invited into our homes every time the door is opened, so why not have an rugged welcome mat outside the door for initial foot wiping and then an protective indoor rug designed to handle whatever gets dragged in. Keep a boot and shoe rack at the door so all footgear can be removed and left right there at the entrance.
Leave the Stain There
Contrary to most other stain cleaning instructions, which say to clean a stain as soon as possible, the opposite is necessary when it comes to mud. When mud is dragged onto the carpet, leave it there, and let it dry. If you try to clean it, you will only spread it or embed it more deeply in the carpet. When you are certain it is quite dry, brush it with a carpet brush and remove as much of the dried mud as possible. After a thorough brushing, vacuum the area to remove any remaining particles and vacuum deeply into the carpet fibers. Repeat this until you are certain that you have removed as much as possible.
Cleaning Solution
The next step is to apply a cleaning agent to remove any remaining stain. You can use anything from a mild non-bleaching detergent to a carpet shampoo. Have a clean white cloth handy, and simply apply a small amount of the cleaning agent on the cloth and gently dab and blot the area. This step can be repeated until the stain is completely gone. You can also use a spray bottle with clean water to continue to spray and blot the area until it is completely free of soap or any lingering ghost spots. If you find the stain to be particularly recalcitrant, you can use a mixture of two cups of warm water and a half cup of peroxide in a spray bottle. Spray and dab accordingly until you are satisfied. Make sure to blot the carpeting to assist in the drying process.
With a bit of care, you can keep your home fresh and welcoming. Make your carpet last for years to come by having it professionally cleaned at least once a season. High Quality Carpet can assist you in any cleaning job, no matter how large, small, or delicate. Contact us through our online form or by phone at (732) 400-5255.