April 14, 2007
No Nonsense Carpet Cleaning Tips
Carpet stains are unsightly and degrade the overall quality of any carpet. This piece is about carpet cleaning and removing stains from your carpet, as well as helpful tips on how to do so properly, keeping your carpet looking as new as the day you bought it.
If you have children, running around the house it is almost guaranteed you will incur many stains throughout the childhood years. These stains seem to appear out of thin air, of course there is always the “not me” monster that loves to spill things. Different stains require different measures of removal.
The first measure to take when carpet cleaning is to be aware of the directions from the manufacturer. If you decide to use a commercial carpet cleaner, it is wise to make certain that you have taken separate measures for individual stains, carpet cleaners are typically only good for deep cleaning of an entire carpet, not for individual stains.
Here are some helpful tips that you can try without the need for a commercial carpet cleaner. If you have company over and someone accidentally spills any type of wine, soda, coffee or beer on your carpet, blot the area instantly with a paper towel to remove as much of the liquid as you can. Then use a vinegar solution that contains ¼ cup of white vinegar with ¾ cups of water mixed. Soak the spot with the solution then blot again to remove the moisture.
With juices like fruit or berries, remove what you can with a knife, a wet vacuum works typically well for this type of stain. If the juice has dried, saturate it with water and life the excess liquid. You can mix a ½ of teaspoon dish soap with 1 quart of water, apply to the stained area, and blot. Once the stain is removed rinse the area.
Every child has accidents that will involve blood or vomit on your carpet, never fear help is here. This even works well on Catsup, blot the area well and as much as you possibly can. Then you should neutralize the stain with an ammonia solution. This solution should contain 1 tablespoon of ammonia and ¾ cup of cold water. Mix this in a spray bottle and saturate the area well, but ensure that you are not wetting the carpet backing. Blot with a paper towel to remove the moisture.
For those fun crayon or paint stains, remove as much as you can by blotting with paper towels. Then apply rubbing alcohol to a white cloth or cotton ball and blot some more. You may have to apply extra if the crayon goes deep into the pile but make sure the backing does not get wet. First mix up a solution of 1-quart water and ½-teaspoon dish soap. Then apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Blot to work the detergent into the affected area.
Remember always follow the manufacturers instructions for stain removal. This Combined with the above carpet removal tips should have you lifting the toughest stains in no time flat.
Ethan K. Roberts writes on a variety of topics not limited to carpet cleaning. More articles at carpet cleaner and carpet cleaning tips.
