CLEANING CARPETS ARTICLES

How to Remove Stains From Your Carpet After They Have Set In

Once stains have set in, cleaning your carpet can become quite frustrating. As much as possible you should immediately remove the stain before it sets deep into the carpet. There are several ways of cleaning the carpet fast and easy but it will cost you a lot of money. However, there are surefire ways of removing stains from the carpet using materials commonly found in your home.

The fastest and easiest way to remove stains from your carpet after they set in is to hire professionals to steam clean your carpets. Steam cleaning, as recommended by most carpet manufacturers, is the best method for cleaning carpets. Hire a professional if the stains on the carpet are those that cannot be easily removed such as chlorine, hair dyes, ammonia, and insecticides, among others.

You can also rent a steam cleaner if you cannot afford to hire people to do it for you. On the other hand, if you are inexperienced on using this equipment, it might do more damage to your carpets.

Another method is shampooing your carpet. You can do this on your own using a carpet shampooer, but this approach leaves residue that can make carpets sticky or foamy the next time you clean it.

If you are on a budge, the best way to remove stains from your carpets is to act at once after a spill or an army of muddy shoes steps on them. You should immediately blot the stain with cloth. Do not rub or scrub the stain for it will do more damage.

Apply pressure on the cloth until most of the liquid seeps into it. If it is food spillage, try to pick up the solids with paper towels before blotting the carpet with a damp cloth. If the accident happened during a party or dinner with guests and you cannot remove the stain right away, put salt on the area so that the dirt will not set deep into the fibers.

For mud or dirt, the easiest way to tackle this is to wait for them to dry off before breaking them into smaller pieces then use a vacuum to remove them from the carpet.
You can use natural cleaning materials such as vinegar to remove blots or stains before using chemicals that might be harmful to children and pets. However, test first your homemade cleaning materials on hidden areas to check if it will not bleed or soil the carpet.

Keeping Your Carpets Clean & Odor-Free When You Have Pets At Home

Your pets might be lovable and great companions in your home, but they can also make quite a mess on your furniture and floors. Furthermore, pets can cause problems on your carpets in the form of stains, bad odors, and other troubles. Pets that haven’t been housebroken can be especially problematic as a result of repeated “accidents.”

How can you keep your carpets clean and odor-free when you have pets at home? Here are some indispensible tips.

A Hairy Problem to Deal With

When your pets shed all over your carpets, the best way to fix this hairy problem is to vacuum using a beater brush or brush roll. Other options include a tape roller and pet sponges, which are both available at most pet supply stores.

On the Spot with Pet Urine

To remove pet urine from your carpets, water down the urine with a damp cloth then apply a water and vinegar solution to clean the spot. Afterwards, you can use a pet product called a digester to mark or remove the smell. Keep in mind; pets tend to urinate on the same spot if the area still has their scent.

The Dirt on Pet Vomit

Sometimes pets will suffer from stomach problems and accidentally vomit on your carpets. The best way to solve any resulting stain is to remove the solids first (if any). You should then dilute the spot with warm water and a cloth. Since the acid from your pet’s stomach may cause a lot of harm to your carpest, it is also important to use a cleaning chemical/material to remove the vomit stain right away.

The Scoop on Pet Poop

Pet poop will do the most damage when it dries up on the carpets before you can remove it. It can seep into the carpet fibers and cause deeper stains. Remove it right away before it dries to prevent any permanent damage.

The Sweet Smell of Successfully Keeping Odor-Free

The best way to keep your carpets odor-free is to clean up the mess and spray it with sanitizing chemicals right away to cover the smell. If the urine, vomit, or feces dries up on the surface, the liquid or acid from it will seep into the fibers and settle on the surface of the carpet’s padding. This will cause the odor to remain and may even cause discoloration and deterioration.

Probably the most important thing you can to keep your carpets clean and odor-free is to housebreak your pets immediately. For cats, keep their litters maintained, and for dogs, lay down newspapers on areas or take them outside where they should do their “business” or take them outside.

Removing Gum, Mud, & Spills from Your Carpet

Caring for your carpets and keep them clean can be a big headache and expensive. Your kids and pets can make it especially difficult to keep up with constant gum, mud, and spills to menace your carpet.

The fastest way to take care of carpet problems caused by gum, mud or spills is to pay a professional to do the job for you. They will deep clean your carpets according to the need such as steam cleaning, shampooing or dry cleaning. But what if you are short on cash and you have guests coming in a few hours?

Here are some suggestions on fixing the problem yourself in a flash:

Removing gum from your carpet
The reason gum is prohibited in some countries or places is because it is difficult to remove from any surface whether on the sole of your shoes, on your clothes, hair (this one’s a nightmare!), tables, chairs, and floor, among many others. Fortunately, there is one surefire way of removing gum quick and easy from your carpet (even from your hair).

Use ice cubes. First step is to place one ice cube inside a plastic bag or wrap it inside a clean cloth to avoid water stains on your carpets. Then press the ice cube against the gum to harden it. Check if it is firm enough then pull it off from the carpet. Pick out any remaining traces of gum.

Removing mud from your carpets
Muddy feet (and paws) could mess up your beautiful and clean carpets especially during rainy and snowy weather. Everyone will just trample and run around on your carpets if removing shoes before entering the house is not part of your routine. The easiest way to tackle this problem is to wait for the mud to dry completely. If you clean away the mud while it’s still wet, it may spread on the carpet and will be more difficult to remove. When it’s dry enough to be scraped off, remove or brush off as much of the dirt as possible. Next, clean the surface with one teaspoon each of carpet detergent and white vinegar mixed in a quart of warm water. Lightly vacuum after the carpet is completely dry.

Removing spills from your carpet
Getting spills on your carpets is a common accident, and the best way to remove stains from them is to act at once. Immediately blot the stain with a cloth. Do not rub or scrub it for that will do more damage. Apply pressure on the cloth until most of the liquid seeps into it.
If it’s food spillage, try to pick up the solids with paper towels before blotting the carpet with a damp cloth. If the accident happens during a party or dinner with guests and you cannot remove the stain right away, put salt on the area so that the dirt will not set deep into the fibers.