Carpets make your home feel more homely, protect your floors and make your feet feel warm. However, carpets can be pretty challenging to maintain or clean, and vacuuming alone is usually not enough. But luckily, we have valuable tips for cleaning carpets that will make keeping your mats and rugs cleaner and looking nice a lot easier. Of course, it’s essential to check beforehand whether the tricks suit your carpet.
1# Make Your Own Natural Carpet Cleaner
You can make a very effective carpet cleaner yourself. Mix about 180 millilitres of hydrogen peroxide, 60 millilitres of alcoholic vinegar, five drops of essential oil, two tablespoons of dishwashing detergent, two tablespoons of fabric softener and about 4 litres of hot water.
That solution can effectively clean most food stains.
2# Use Lint Roller For Hairs
Crumbs, hairs and tiny bits of dirt can bury deep in the fibres. As a result, they are tough to remove, even if you use a powerful vacuum cleaner. In these cases, it makes sense to use a lint roller to remove the lint from your carpet, and that will allow you to get right down to the hard-to-remove dirt and remove even the most stubborn particles.
3# Use Salt When Spilling Red Wine
You may spit a red wine on the carpet, and maybe you see that as a disaster, especially if you have a white rug. But don’t panic; there is a solution in your kitchen.
Salt will help you extract red wine spots from your carpets and can clean upholstery as well. Put a dab of table salt on the blot of wine stain that popped up, and let it do the work for you. When the salt extracts red vine and becomes reddish, vacuum it out once. Repeat the process and start applying salt from the edges and then vacuum. It would be best to start from the edges; otherwise, it will take to dry up, and you’ll have to use another solution like a mixture of vinegar and mineral water.
Be careful not to test this mixture on your carpet. Try it on the corner or hidden area, and if it doesn’t affect your carpet, then you know it’s safe to use.
4# Use Iron to Remove Stubborn Stains
First, vacuum the carpet area where the stain has appeared thoroughly. Then cover the stain with a mixture of water and vinegar (mix the ingredients in a 3 : 1 ratio). Wait a few minutes, then cover the stain with a cloth and iron over it. The heat and pressure will soften the dirt, making it much easier to remove the stain. Be careful not to hold iron for long cause it can make things even worse.
5# Baking Soda Can Remove Grease Stains
Removing grease stains can be exceptionally tedious, but baking soda is a straightforward solution. Sprinkle it on the stain and wait for it to soak up as much of the grease as possible. Then simply vacuum up the soda. The stain will likely still be visible, but it will be much easier to remove. At the same time, you can use baking soda to help you remove pet urine stains. It is also helpful for a quick refresh of carpets, as it can absorb odours very effectively.
6# Use vinegar to make carpets softer
Carpets that are walked on very often tend to become compacted and hard over time, at least in the most stepped areas. Vinegar can help loosen the fibres, making the carpet fluffier, softer, and likelier. First, mix the vinegar with an equal volume of water. Then pour the liquid into a spray bottle and spray it on the areas that need softening. Wait for a little for the mixture to loosen the fibres. You can then lift them with a spoon or similar.
7# Nail Polish Can Be Removed With Rubbing Alcohol
The easiest way to remove dried nail polish residue is to use rubbing alcohol. First, try removing as much varnish as possible with a blunt kitchen knife. Then carefully blot the stain with the edge of a cloth you have previously soaked in rubbing alcohol.
8# Chewing Gum On The Carpet?
To remove the chewing gum stuck to the carpet, one must first harden; otherwise, it will not be possible to remove it effectively. We recommend you help yourself by placing an ice cube on the chewing gum for a few minutes. Repeat with a new cube if necessary. When the gum is hard enough, carefully scrape it off the carpet.
9# Shaving Foam Is Also An Excellent Tool For Cleaning Carpets
Shaving foam is handy for removing less stubborn stains from light-coloured carpets. In addition, shaving foam will also make your carpet softer and more pleasant to the touch. Place shaving foam on the dirty carpet area and gently extract the dirt by pressing the wipe.
10# For Odour Removal, Use a Home-Made Freshener
Is carpet odour the main problem? Mix 2 tablespoons of borax, ten drops of essential oil of your choice and 2 cups of baking soda. Then sprinkle the mixture on your carpet. The baking soda will absorb odours, the essential oil freshens, and the borax will kill bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms.
Conclusion
There are a few more ways to clean your carpets more effectively. The best way to clean your carpets is to use a carpet steam cleaner. Carpet steam cleaners are great because they are safe, effective and easy to use. Carpet steam cleaners use steam to kill bacteria and dirt and leave your carpets feeling fresh and clean. But they are costly professional tools, and it is not a cheap and sound investment for your home as you need to deep clean your carpets twice a year. It will be wise to hire a professional to do that job for you.