How to effectively clean a carpet? Cleaning tips and tricks

2023-04-30 16:04:46

Carpets, we love them. In addition to decorating our living rooms, they keep us warm and give a very friendly touch to our interior. Big catch: they attract a whole colony of dust mites and bacteria. And, it’s very annoying, since the dust keeps piling up, bringing with it all kinds of seasonal allergies. So, there is no secret, you have to take care of them and clean them as often as possible. Yes, but that’s the least of your worries! However, the longer you delay the deadline, the more your carpets become clogged. The message has passed, you have finally decided to roll up your sleeves to bring them back to life. Are you worried about spending too much money? Rest assured, there is no need to ruin yourself with chemicals. Especially since some detergents, which are too aggressive, may even alter or wash out the fibers of the carpet. The solution ? Cheap, but reliable remedies for very effective cleaning.

Grandma’s tip: bet on baking soda!

Of course, never venture to apply any product. Because each material may require different maintenance. To avoid making a mess, as soon as you buy a new carpet, take a look at the cleaning instructions on the label. You may even be surprised to learn that some rugs are machine washable!

Read also: Why is it not recommended to wash bath mats in the washing machine?

A bowl of baking soda – Source: spm

Come on, we start with this first method which is very effective in removing small recent stains and light soiling. Keep it in mind, it is ideal for regular maintenance of your carpets. On the other hand, even if baking soda is an outstanding stain remover, it will not be able to fight against old stubborn stains. So, for this cleaning, you will need: rubber gloves, vacuum cleaner, table salt, baking soda, water and possibly citric acid.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Put on the gloves to protect your hands.
2. Take a small bowl. Add a tablespoon of salt and a tablespoon of baking soda. Mix the two ingredients carefully.
3. Sprinkle this mixture on the carpet. Using your gloves, gently rub the surface of the carpet. Thus, the baking soda will be able to penetrate the hairs and absorb unpleasant odors. As a bonus, it will refresh colors that have become dull. The salt, for its part, it will also give a boost and eliminate dirt stains.
4. After rubbing well, let the products work for about 15 minutes.
5. Then take the vacuum cleaner to suck up all the grit and residue from the carpet. At this stage, you will already feel a difference. The stains are gone and the carpet seems to come back to life!
6. But, if you feel it’s not clean enough yet, that’s where the citric acid needs to come in. Its advantage: it has a superb lightening effect on the colors and restores pep even to old carpets.
7. You need to dissolve 20 g of citric acid in 200 ml of boiling water.
8. Then add another 400ml of cold water.
9. Dip a cloth in this homemade detergent and wipe down the carpet. Then let it air dry.
10. There you go, your carpet is clean and completely refreshed.

Vacuuming – Source: spm

This time, you don’t need to wear rubber gloves to dry clean your carpet. And instead of applying the classic chemicals, you will experience this super effective home remedy, without even putting in too much effort. Special mention: this method will not harm the color or the material of your carpet. You won’t even have to use a rag! You simply need to mix 2 cups of potato starch with 5 tablespoons of soap flakes. Then sprinkle the entire surface of the rug and run your fingers deep into the pile of the rug. Leave on for at least 30 minutes, before vacuuming to remove all dust and dirt. And there you have it, well done!

In addition to decorating bedrooms and living rooms, wool rugs have the advantage of naturally resisting stains. So it’s not that complicated to remove them: with a little water and a cleaning spray, you can say goodbye to dirt. Even mud is easy to remove, just let it dry and vacuum it up. Not so fast, there is still an important point to raise. In order not to damage the soft texture, color or pattern of your wool rugs, there are certain precautions to take. Otherwise, they won’t last long and you risk causing irreparable damage!

If you have any at home, you know full well that it is very difficult to avoid spills of sauces or drinks, even if you are very careful on a daily basis. This is why frequent cleaning is essential! To do this, you must have specific products, suitable for wool, at hand. And above all, you have to use the right techniques to protect your carpets. Rest assured, we will guide you to clean them brilliantly and without false note!

• Prepare a cleaning kit

First of all, you must be perfectly equipped to properly clean your wool carpets. Normally, you should have a special carpet shampoo dedicated to this material. No, you don’t have that in stock? Well, that’s okay, a non-organic laundry solution will do. Of course, the vacuum cleaner remains your best ally for regularly removing dust, dirt and debris that become embedded between the bristles. Also, bring white microfiber cloths and paper towels to soak up any spills. Ah yes, it turns out that the steam cleaner is also a great solution, but always check the manufacturer’s recommendations.

• Vacuum your wool carpet

It’s no mystery: wool is a real dirt magnet, so to remove dust, a vacuum cleaner is your best bet. Especially since, it is well known, all new carpets tend to lose fibers the first time. So you need to vacuum all that residue at least once, if not twice, a week. Do you have pets at home? So maybe you have a special little vacuum cleaner that quickly removes their hair? If so, it will make it easier for you to collect dust and restore velvet!

• Apply a suitable shampoo

Periodically, when you consider deep cleaning, do not play around with multiple unsuitable products, otherwise your carpets may suffer. Always use a specific shampoo recommended by the manufacturer or, at least, a product specially designed for wool carpets. For example, if you were looking for a homemade solution: in a bucket filled with cold water, add a cup of laundry detergent. Mix well and you’re done! But, as a precautionary measure, follow the manufacturer’s instructions first and always test an isolated corner of the carpet, before starting. ” This is the rule of thumb when cleaning a carpet. Choose a discreet place, I recommend a corner. To ensure that cleaning will not harm the color of the carpet “, explains Lucy Searle, specialist in the field.

Read also: Without water or detergents: this natural product will make your carpet super clean

Another precaution to take: as wool is very absorbent, you must above all avoid wetting the carpet too much when applying the shampoo. Simply dampen a white microfiber cloth, work in the direction of the fibers, then dab gently, but never rub. It goes without saying, you have to dwell a little more on the very dirty areas. If necessary, re-wet the cloth with your cleaning solution, while avoiding wetting the mat. Yes, it is quite a challenge at times, but over time you will get used to it!

• Rinse the wool rug with a cloth

So, precisely, how to rinse the shampoo or cleaning solution without wetting the carpet too much? The technique is not complicated: you just need to soak the white cloth with a little clear water and gently dab it on the area, being careful not to press on the carpet. It takes some skill, it’s true. But, it is very important to avoid water absorption: if the fibers get completely wet, the humidity will cause bad odors and attract microbes. So be careful! And if ever you have not been able to dose the amount of water, take another microfiber cloth, dry this time, to eliminate excess moisture. The idea is to ensure that your carpet is perfectly dry!

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