Carpets are one of the most difficult surfaces to clean by yourself.
They are porous and have thousands of little nooks and crannies that tend to trap dirt, dust, grime. The reality is that most people only think about buying the right type of carpet for their home; yet not much about how to clean it.
In this article, we'll take a look at how to have a fresh-smelling, stain and dirt-free mat in your home. You can read more about carpet sanitizer and disinfection methods on our blog as well.
Let's dive deep into this topic.
Vacuum the carpet to remove any loose dirt
When you are cleaning your carpets, there is no better place to start than by vacuuming them. Vacuuming the carpets will remove the loose debris present in them such as dust, dirt, and any other particles that may be lying around on them.
Use a damp cloth or sponge with mild soap solution to clean stains
Use a damp cloth or a sponge that has been dipped in some mild soapy water solution to clean the stiff and tough spots like grease, oil, etc.
If you have pets at home then it is likely that your carpets might end up dirty with their fur and pet stains. Make sure to get rid of these stubborn stains immediately, otherwise, they can attract more dirt later when someone steps on them with their shoes.
Blot the carpet dry to remove extra moisture
The next step is to blot your carpets dry by using a clean cloth.
After you have removed the stains, it is important to make sure that there is no excess moisture left on the surface of your carpet as this can cause mold and mildew growth. The best way to do so is by blotting your carpet rather than rubbing them which might spread the stain or dirt around if any.
Vacuum again after 24 hours
When cleaning your carpets after removing all the stains and spots, vacuum them once again after about 24 hours so that they look clean and fresh. This will also get rid of the soapy residue that you might have left behind.
Use a cleaning machine to clean your carpets
Though it is possible to get your carpets cleaned at home by yourself too using DIY methods, many people prefer professional methods as these are more effective and leave no chances for error.
For this purpose, you can simply get in touch with a local carpet cleaner or rent out one for yourself. These come fitted with advanced features that make them capable of deep cleaning all types of carpets from woolen rugs to shaggy ones with great ease. The best part about them is they use top-notch products that are both pet friendly and water-soluble, which means their detergent solutions do not leave any sort of residue on your carpets.
Clean upholstery using the same methods
The same methods that you use for cleaning carpets can be used on your upholstery as well.
You might need to add more detergent or mix it with some baking soda which makes them even more effective against stubborn dirt and stains. Professional upholstery cleaners also have special products that can be used for this purpose, so in case you want to use these instead of your regular detergent then feel free to do so.
The main thing is that they should not make the surface wet and should not leave any residue behind after cleaning.
Brush dirt off your carpets regularly
For this purpose, you will need a sturdy broom that can be used with ease on any surface, whether it's smooth or rough like concrete or wood. Make sure to brush gently so that you do not damage the fibers of your carpet as this can make cleaning even harder for you in the future.
Use rugs to hide stains If there are certain areas in your home due to which stains tend to spread to other areas of your carpets, then you should use rugs to hide these stains.
You can find such rugs at regular marketplaces in different shapes, sizes, and colors so that they blend well with the color scheme of your home. This way any dirt or stain will stay hidden under them so that it does not get transferred to the rest of your carpet.
Clean spills as soon as possible
Along with requiring immediate cleaning when a spot occurs on your carpet (and removing the spots immediately), it is also important to clean up any spills over it immediately too. For this purpose, you need special products that are water-soluble and non-toxic.
Additional carpet cleaning tips to consider
You may use standard soap and water, but we strongly recommend against this as it dulls the color of the hide until they're no longer visible. Instead, follow one of these top 4 methods below:
1 – Cleaning Leather Furniture With A Bowl Of Water And A Sponge
Dip a sponge into a bowl of clean water and gently run it along with the leather. Dampen a slightly larger area than you require so that you have enough moisture to work with. Repeat until all dirt has been removed from the surface and wipe off any excess water using a dry cloth or paper towel, allowing your couch to dry naturally.
2 – Cleaning Leather Furniture With A Bowl Of Water And A Mild Detergent
Dip a sponge into a bowl of lukewarm water mixed with mild soap (soap flakes are fine). Rinse off any remaining foam by adding more water and repeat if necessary until all dirt has been lifted from the surface. Once again, blot dry with a clean paper towel or cloth.
3 – Cleaning Leather Furniture With A Mild Detergent And Cotton Balls
Dusting your leather furniture may be easier than you think. Just mix some mild detergent and water in a bowl, add 3 to 4 cotton balls and gently rub them against the surface of your sofas. Rinse off the mixture with more water if any soap is left on it and let it dry naturally.
4 – Cleaning Leather Furniture With A Sponge And Some Rubbing Alcohol
Mix 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol with 1 cup of warm water in a bowl until all ingredients are dissolved (slightly warm water speeds up this process). Dip a sponge into this solution and gently run along the surface of your couch, leaving no residue behind. Don't forget to wipe off any excess liquid after you're done. Note: this mixture will not damage the leather, but it's important to let your leather furniture air out for a few hours to let the alcohol evaporate.
Final thoughts on how to clean a carpet
In conclusion, carpet cleaning is a process that requires not only the right tools and equipment but also knowledge about the best ways to do it. You may need to use certain products for specific stains on your carpets and each of them has a different effect depending on what they are made of and how they were produced.
If you have any doubts, consult an expert carpet cleaning service instead of trying anything by yourself since you can easily ruin the surface if you don't know what you're doing.
