Carpet Cleaning 101

There are different types of stains that may mar the beauty of a good carpet. Bringing it to a professional cleaner is expensive. There are ways, however, where stains can be removed. Some of the most common substances used in carpet cleaners are vinegar, baking soda, salt, corn starch, or through the use of other naturally occurring substances.

There are several ways that may be utilized to remove stains, so before you call the carpet cleaners, determine what type of substance produced the stain. Using a cleaning solution made from materials that will address specific types of stains increases the possibility of being able to successfully remove carpet stains.

Light Stains

When treating light stains, a sprayer is filled with liquid that consists of equal portions of water and vinegar. This mixture is applied directly onto the stain using the sprayer. It then stays for about ten minutes. Once it is somewhat dry, a nylon brush is then utilized to clean the stain. After the stain has been brushed out, the whole area is wiped using a towel that has been dipped in the spray containing the vinegar and water mixture.

Heavy Stains

Heavy stains need to be addressed in a more aggressive manner. The materials to be used are a half cup of salt, half a cup of vinegar, and half a cup of borax. These are mixed together to form a paste, which is applied in liberal quantities on the stained area. It is important that the stained portion is completely saturated with the paste. Allow it to set for two hours before using a vacuum cleaner to remove the paste.

Fresh Stains

It is better to remove stains at the time they occur. It may be possible to remove stains immediately by applying a generous amount of club soda to the affected area. The whole area is then gently cleaned. The process needs to be repeated until the whole stain has been removed.

Urine Stains

Urine stains originating from pets using the carpet as a bathroom can be cleaned using the following procedures. A dry towel is used to absorb the excess liquid urine. To one and a half quarts of warm water add one cup of vinegar. A sponge is then dipped into this mixture and applied onto the area affected by animal urine. Excess moisture is removed using a cloth until the area is dry. The area is then sprinkled with baking soda and left in place for an additional 20 minutes. This process is repeated until the stain is completely removed.

Grease Stains

Grease stain removal requires a completely different approach. As much of the stain should first be removed using an absorbent towel. It is important not to rub the stained area. Otherwise, removing the stain will only become more difficult. Once all the grease that can be absorbed has been removed, a large quantity of corn starch is sprinkled onto the remaining stain. This is allowed to set for a full day, after which a vacuum cleaner is utilized to completely blot out whatever is left of the stain.

When dealing with stains, it is important to act quickly and correctly. The right substances should be used based on the type of stain involved. Therefore, keeping a carpet stain-free is not as difficult as some people believe.

This is a guest posting from Gin Fisher, an ex-nanny with a passion for all things neat, clean and tidy.