We love carpets for their homey feel and aesthetic appeal, but cleaning a carpet can be a hassle, particularly those unanticipated stains and blotches from food spills. If you are also afraid of the cleaning hassle associated with carpets, we are here with some practical tips for you.
These carpet cleaning hacks have been curated after years of experience with carpet restoration, to help homeowners learn how to clean a carpet at home like a pro. In case of an accident, apply one of our tried-and-tested tricks to get those stains out in no time.
Apply A Home-Made Stain Lifter Solution
Stains can be one of two types — water or oil-based. Most often, the latter are much harder to remove, but there is always hope with our DIY solutions. When an unexpected stain appears on your carpet, dig into your pantry for common kitchen items like vinegar, salt, or alcohol. These compounds have acidic properties, which means they can efficiently extract out bright-colored stains to clean carpets effectively. If these don’t work, an alternative treatment is also available.
Baking soda is notoriously popular for drawing out oil stains. So if a mark persists despite all your efforts, baking soda and essential oil solution might be the answer. Leave this solution on the stained area for a few minutes, and blot with a towel to remove unwanted residue effectively.
Roll Away Pet Dander
Those bunched-up clumps of hair swaying around the corner of the carpets can be really irritating. Often the shorter hair of pets get deeply embedded into the carpet layers, building up until it is vacuumed out.
The easiest way to eliminate this buildup is with the help of a lint roller. Rather than manually picking through the tiny particles and dander, just run a lint roller across the dirty surface. You’ll be surprised with the amount of dung that comes out.
Use Baking Soda For Odors
A major downside of carpets is that they can retain odors for a long period of time. However, if treated instantly, there is a better chance of neutralizing an odor completely. A no-miss trick for this is baking soda.
Whether it is pet pee, food spill, or other pungent stains, baking soda will get it right out. Just mix a teaspoon of your regular soda packet into a few drops of your favorite fragranced cleaning solution or essential oil. Sprinkle it on the affected area, and let sit for 5 minutes. You’ll notice the smell fading away, instantly freshening up your carpet.
Treat Dents With Ice Cubes
Indentations on carpets are common due to heavy furniture, but when you change the room layout, they might feel out of place.
No need to fret, though; there is a simple fix for that. Just a few ice cubes and a steel fork will do the job. Let the ice cubes melt on the indentations, and fluff up the fibers with the edged part of the fork to remove indentations.
Take Measures To Avoid Stains
And now coming to the most effective carpet cleaning hack, the prevention technique. These do not include banning entry into the carpeted area, but a few practical changes that mitigate the chances of stains effectively. Some ways to avoid carpet stains are;
Placing doormats that pre-scoop any dirt and dust coming in with shoes.
Runner rugs on top of carpet for foot traffic.
Daily vacuuming to remove pet dander, hair, dirt, and residue.
Instant removal of stains and spills to prevent odors and dyes from setting in.
Home carpeting is a great integration into a living space, which should not be feared just because some of us consider it a cleaning hassle. All you need is a little technique and a strategic cleaning methodology to counter the toughest stains that lurk within carpet fibers. Try our hit-list carpet cleaning tips the next time you come across an uncomfortable stain, and we guarantee that you will be satisfied!
