Removing Tough Carpet Stains Carpets are hard to clean. Even when you think you have done things right, there will be stains you thought you had cleaned or creases you…
Carpet Stain Removal Tips
When you get new carpet, you’re usually extra careful to keep it clean. If lucky, you will probably be able to prevent spills or splashes for a few months, but as the years pass it gets more and more difficult.
If you have carpet in a room that is frequently used by family and guests, there is bound to be spillage. You may take every precaution, but carpet stains cannot be avoided. Consistent carpet cleaning is essential for staying on top of stains.
A noticeable wine or mustard stain on your carpet is not ideal but fortunately it is not the end of the world. Before calling in carpet cleaners, you can try the following tips for how to remove or lighten common stains:
Coffee Stains
Coffee is one of the world’s favourite beverages, but coffee stains are problematic for households and are commonly found on floors, sofas, or carpets.
If a coffee spill has left a dark, noticeable stain, the first thing you should do is put a rag over it so the liquid doesn’t get soaked deep into the fabric. Next, try using a mix of water, vinegar, and non-bleach soap powder. Spray this mixture on the stain, rinse and repeat. You can also call in a professional upholstery cleaning service.
The faster you act, the better chance you have at removing the stain. If you are using a commercial stain remover, make sure that you wear protective gloves.
Pet Stains
Pet owners know the dilemma of pet stains very well. An adored pet can leave an ugly stain on your carpet, and it can be a frustrating experience.
If you notice the stain right away, make sure you blot the stain as if your life depends on it. This will make the stain easier for you to remove. Make sure you don’t rub or smear the stain.
Steps to follow if you notice the stain after it has dried:
- First, you should moisten the stain
- Next, spray it with a mixture of vinegar and warm water and let it soak for a few minutes and then redo the blotting technique
- Repeat these steps until the stain has disappeared
- Water with added detergent may also help in the removal of stains from pets
Ink Stains
Ink stains have been known to wreak havoc on furniture and especially carpets.
Once ink has spilt, many Armadale homeowners throw out or put their furniture in storage without even attempting to get the stain removed.
This is a shame as many ink stains can be removed by dabbing (not rubbing) the stain with a clean damp cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol.
After letting it soak for a few minutes, use a wet/dry vacuum to remove the extra moisture.
How to Easily Remove Carpet Stains at Home?
Carpet stains are frustrating as they can ruin the look of a beautiful looking carpet and cost you money to get replaced. However, some simple home tips can be used to get rid of a lot of carpet stains.
A mixture of vinegar and warm water is effective for many dark stains like coffee or wine, while alcohol can be used on even darker stains like ink. Lemon can be used to get rid of any odour that a stain may leave behind.
Give Your Rug or Carpet a Thorough Clean This Weekend
Rugs may give your house a beautiful look and help your home’s entire décor look opulent, but maintaining and cleaning carpets is dreaded by many people.
Whether your rug is old or new, handmade or not, you should put some effort to keep it looking fresh and clean. With the correct cleaning procedure, it may be years before you require a professional cleaning service and you will be able to lengthen its lifespan.
Below are some carpet maintenance and cleaning tips:
- A Vacuum is Your Best Friend
- Spot Clean Common Stains and Spills
- Pick One Rug or Carpet to Clean at a Time
- Steam Clean
Your Vacuum is Your Best Friend
Many experts say you should vacuum your rug regularly to remove daily dust build-up. However, this is not feasible for many working individuals.
If you vacuum your rug or carpet twice a week, it should be sufficient. Experts also say cleaning thoroughly on weekends should suffice for the entire week.
While vacuuming, don’t just do the surface on top of the carpet but also turn it over and vacuum underneath. Crumbs and dirt may get stuck in the fringes and can damage the look of the rug. Don’t forget to clean the edges.
Spot Cleaning Common Stains and Spills
Spot cleaning means cleaning the rug or carpet as soon as you notice a dirty or dusty spot. The same goes for stains and spills. Depending on the type of stain you are dealing with, there are some steps to follow.
Pick One Rug or Carpet to Clean at a Time
If you decide to clean all carpets or rugs in your house in a single weekend, you are likely to be sorely disappointed. Before you start cleaning, it’s important to have realistic expectations about how much you can get done.
This will allow you to plan accordingly. If you have ever seen a professional carpet cleaner in Perth, you may have noticed that they go about their work one rug at a time.
Whether you are vacuuming, removing stains with a commercial solution or using a homemade vinegar and water solution, direct your attention to one rug at a time. Once completed, you can proceed to other rugs. This will ensure that your carpet looks spick and span.
Steam Cleaning
If you want a deep clean, you may opt for a steam cleaning. To get satisfactory steam cleaning results, you can hire a professional steam cleaning service. Below are some benefits of steam cleaning:
- Steam cleaning is a safer and an eco-friendly alternative
- It can make your home look new again
- Steam cleaning helps get rid of allergens
- Eliminates pet odours
Rugs are great pieces of indoor décor, but can be hard to clean and maintain.
Regular cleaning should be carried out to maintain cleanliness. If you want to devote a weekend to cleaning your carpets, you should follow the tips above or make an appointment with a carpet cleaner.
Rug cleaning may initially be seen as a mammoth task but it can be fairly easy if you know what you are doing.
Just remember to try cleaning one carpet or rug at a time, vacuum regularly and spot clean to ensure a consistently clean carpet with an increased lifespan.
How to Keep Your Carpets Odour Free and Minty Fresh
If you are a home owner with beautiful carpets, you know the difficulty in keeping them clean and free of odours. Giving your carpet a deep clean will eliminate unpleasant odours.
Unwanted odours can be caused by many factors. The main culprits are family members and guests that walk on the carpet before taking off their shoes when indoors. This causes dirt that is stuck on the soles of shoes to subsequently get stuck to the fabric of the carpet.
Other culprits of carpet odours are your little family friends; your dog or cat can bring unwanted germs into your home.
Is it Possible to Remove Carpet Odours by Yourself?
The answer is yes! Over time, your carpet will start giving off a musty smell, so if you don’t have the time or energy you can call a professional carpet cleaning service.
Carpet odours are common problems in Joondalup homes that have indoor pets. However, before you start looking up professional carpet cleaning rates online, there are some steps you can follow at home to get the fresh, new smell of your carpet back.
However, these tips will only keep the smell at bay and do not achieve a deep clean of the carpet.
- Carpets can be deodorized by using familiar household products
- Baking soda can be used to remove musty smells, whereas vinegar is excellent for stronger odours
- Baking soda is best used when left overnight, but vinegar can get the job done in about 10-15 minutes
- Baking soda with essential oils will give your home a fresh clean odour
Baking Soda for Pet Odour
If you have pets in your house, you are bound to have pet saliva or urine on your carpet.
If you have a tough stain or an unpleasant odour to remove, baking soda is the answer to your problem. It’s also an excellent disinfectant.
- Sprinkle baking soda in generous amounts over affected areas and you will see results overnight
- Baking soda traps unpleasant smells and absorbs excess moisture
- After allowing the baking soda to soak all night, clean it thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner
- If you are unsatisfied with the first attempt, this process can be repeated until the odour has been eliminated
Baking Soda with Essential Oils
If you want to remove unwanted odours from your carpet and make them smell like your favourite essential oil at the same time, you can try this neat trick.
- Mix a few drops of your favourite essential oil into baking soda
- Follow the same carpet cleaning process mentioned above
Deodorise with Vodka or Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural deodorizer which absorbs unpleasant smells. This explains its use in refrigerators, smelly corners in the house and even for cleaning pet litter boxes.
Do not worry about the strong smell of vinegar as it disappears along with the odour once the liquid has evaporated.
Another great way to get rid of carpet smells is to use vodka:
- Spray vodka on the affected area and allow it to sit for 15 minutes before absorbing with a paper towel
- Vodka is a natural anti-bacterial and can help in removing unwanted smells
- Both vodka or vinegar can be used to deodorise carpets with the same cleaning method
How to Keep Your Carpet Germ Free
Germs are a problem many Mandurah carpet owners complain about. Nobody wants their upholstery to be overcome with a germ infestation.
Carpets are difficult to maintain clean as germs can become trapped easily in the fabric. This poses a significant problem as germs can be harmful to people living in the house as well as pets, guests, and visitors.
You may think the carpet looks perfectly clean, but millions of germs could be living secretly in the tiny fibres.
If you want a deep carpet clean, there are alternative methods to consider. You can hire a professional cleaning service in Caversham or do it yourself to get rid of germs.
Hot Water Extraction
Hot water extraction is an effective and proven method to remove carpet germs.
- A combination of detergent and water is sprinkled or sprayed over the carpet
- Immediately afterwards, a powerful vacuum extracts the sprayed liquid and leaves the carpet squeaky clean
However, this method is typically done by industrial cleaning companies as professional equipment is required to be used. If you want a specialist cleaning service you may want to book an appointment with an expert.
DIY Carpet Cleaner
Unwanted germs can be eliminated by yourself with household products.
Baking soda has been shown to be a versatile product when it comes to cleaning.
Food crumbs and stains should be vacuumed once they are noticed so no build up is allowed.
A simple mixture of water and vinegar can be used to remove unwanted food stains and odours.
If you are not satisfied with your DIY efforts, then it is as simple as picking up the phone to call your local Perth cleaning service.