Useful and effective life hacks for cleaning carpets at home

Effective ways to clean carpets at home

Removing stains from carpets is more complicated than just cleaning them regularly. The following tips will help you keep your carpet in good condition.

**Regular cleaning**

* **Vacuum cleaning:** Vacuum your carpet once or twice a week to remove dust. It is normal for new carpets to shed extra threads at first, especially when they are new, but this is common with almost any carpet, so don't worry.

* **Prefer dry cleaning:** Carpets generally don't like moisture because they take a long time to dry. If you spill a lot of water on your carpet, it can cause an unpleasant odor and even mold. In addition, moisture can damage parquet and laminate.

* **Drying a wet carpet:** If the carpet is very wet during cleaning, wipe it thoroughly with a paper or cotton towel and dry it in a place where there is air circulation. In the cold season, you can dry the carpet with a hair dryer, but do not hold the device too close to the surface.

**Stain Removal**

* **Try as soon as you spot a stain:** Try to remove a stain as soon as you spot it. The rule of thumb is: don't push the stain into the carpet. If you get a slime on your carpet, scrape it off with a spoon. If you spill a liquid, blot it up with a tissue or towel.

* **Don't use laundry detergent:** Don't use laundry detergent to clean your carpet. The residue left on the surface will attract new dirt.

* **Try carpet cleaners:** If you buy a carpet cleaner from a store, test it in an inconspicuous area, such as under a chair. It may not be suitable for your carpet.

* **Specialty cleaning services:** It's best to take brightly colored or wool carpets to a professional cleaning service right away rather than trying to clean them at home.

**Home Carpet Cleaning Methods**

**Cleaning with Vinegar:**

* **What you need:** Two tablespoons of 9% vinegar and 1 liter of warm water.

* **Process:** Using a soft brush, moisten the resulting solution along the surface of the carpet. After cleaning, dry the surface and do not forget to ventilate the room.

**Cleaning with baking soda:**

* **Method 1:**

* **What you need:** Soda, fine salt.

* **Process:** Mix soda with fine salt and sprinkle it on the surface of the carpet. Spread the mixture evenly with a brush. Wait 10-20 minutes. Wet the broom in warm water, sweep the carpet thoroughly. Dry the carpet. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the remains of baking soda and salt. This method absorbs odors well and removes dirt. Deep stains can leave white marks on carpets.

* **Method 2:**

* **What you need:** Two tablespoons of baking soda, one liter of water, a spray bottle.

* **Process:** Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with one liter of water, pour the resulting mixture into a spray bottle and spray evenly on the carpet. Then wait until the carpet dries thoroughly.

**Cleaning with a special detergent:**

* **Test:** Test a store-bought carpet shampoo in an inconspicuous area, as some dyes are unstable and can discolor the carpet.

* **Process:** Dilute the detergent with water in the ratio indicated on the package, mix until foam forms. Spread the foam evenly on the carpet with a sponge, being careful not to get it too wet. Rub the surface in circular motions. Wait for the carpet to dry completely. The shampoo will help freshen the carpet, remove stubborn stains, and remove unpleasant odors.

**Snow Cleaning:**

* **Process:** If you can wait until winter, you can clean the carpet with snow. This method will refresh the surface of the carpet. Roll up the carpet, take it outside, and press the surface of the snow down. Walk over it. The longer the carpet fibers, the more snow you will need. You can smooth the surface of the carpet, sprinkle snow on it, and beat it with a broom or stick. After that, move the carpet to a clean place and repeat the same process. Turn it upside down, sprinkle snow on it again, and clean it with a broom or brush. Then hang the carpet on a hanger and beat it well.

* **Drying:** Shake off any remaining snow so that the carpet does not remain damp. Take the carpet home, wipe off any wet spots with a towel, if any, and let it dry completely.

**Removing various stains**

If the carpet has stubborn stains such as wax or chewing gum, standard cleaning alone will not be enough. The following methods will help get rid of such stains.

**Removing chewing gum:**

* **Freezing:** The best way to get rid of chewing gum is to freeze it. Take a few ice cubes, put them in a plastic bag with a clip, and place them on the surface of the carpet. After that, scrape it off the surface with a thin metal spoon or an old butter knife. If there are any sticky pieces left on the carpet, freeze them again.

* **Final cleaning:** When all the chewing gum is removed, wipe the carpet with soapy water with a little household vinegar. Leave it until completely dry.

**Cleaning a Blood Stain:**

* **Fresh Stain:** Fresh blood on a carpet will come out quickly when washed with cold water. Fill a spray bottle with ice-cold water and spray the stain. Blot it from the edge to the center with a dry cloth or towel. Repeat this process if necessary. Dry the carpet and vacuum it. If the stain does not come out after drying, try using a stronger cleaning agent such as baking soda or vinegar.

* **Cleaning with Salt:** A fresh stain can also be removed with regular salt. Mix it with a little cold water to form a thick paste. Apply the mixture to the dirt on the surface of the carpet, leave it for 5 minutes, rub it with a sponge or cloth. Then vacuum the carpet.

* **Dried Stain:** Scrub the dried stain with a dry, stiff brush. Vacuum to remove any excess dirt. Mix two cups of ice water with one tablespoon of dish soap. Take a soft cloth, dampen it with the solution, and blot the stain. Blot the liquid with a tissue. If the stain remains, scrub again with soapy water. Dry the carpet.

* **Cleaning with ammonia (be careful!):** If the soap solution does not work, take a cup of cold water, add two tablespoons of ammonia, and pour it on the stain. Leave for 5 minutes, then blot with a tissue. Wipe the remaining ammonia solution from the carpet with a clean, damp cloth. Blot with another tissue. You can also place a clean towel over the stain, press firmly, and leave for 10 minutes. This will help the liquid absorb faster. To speed up the drying process, blow dry the carpet.

* **Warning:** Ammonia should not be used on wool carpets. When using ammonia, be careful not to breathe it. It is a health hazard.

**Wax Removal:**

* **Scraping:** Wait for the wax to harden and scrape it off with a spoon or old butter knife. If there are any small pieces, vacuum them up.

* **Ironing:** Take the iron, plug it in, set it to the lowest setting. Turn off the steam function. Place a clean paper towel or piece of paper over the remaining wax stain. Iron with a hot iron. Replace the fabric with a clean one and iron again. Repeat the process until all the wax has melted and is absorbed into the paper. Wait for the carpet to cool completely.

* **Alcohol solution (if necessary):** If the result is still not perfect, rub the surface with an alcohol solution. Test it in an inconspicuous area, as the alcohol can leave discolored stains. Wipe away the moisture with a clean cloth. Leave the carpet to dry completely.