Carpeting Cleaning Tips and Tricks
Keep your carpets spotless with these simple, easy-to-use cleaning techniques
Carpeting is one of the most popular floor coverings for homes due to its durability, appearance and comfort. Yet the fibres that make up carpeting are prone to staining from daily use and accidents, yet they are easily manageable with these simple tips and tricks that make keeping your carpeting clean so simple. It really is just a matter of regular cleaning, spot removal and prevention that can keep carpets looking brand new.
The majority of the carpet produced contains one of six pile fibres, they are nylon, polypropylene (olefin), acrylic, polyester, wool, or cotton with the greatest majority of carpet sold is synthetic fibres.
First step to keeping your carpets looking their best is to understand what cleaning techniques are going to work best on them. This means being able to identify exactly what type of carpeting, and fibre make up, you have. For instance, polyester and polypropylene carpets can be susceptible to holding oily stains while wool carpets should not be heated or bleached as this may damage they carpet. Additionally, wool is able to hold 10 times its weight in moisture, which means it is vulnerable to mould and mildew growth.
You should only buy carpet cleaning products that are designed and suitable for the type of carpet fibres that you have, paying close attention to the warning labels and potential damage if you make a mistake. Ruining a carpet can be a very costly excursion that is best avoided.
Stain Proofing
Like anything, prevention is always better than cure so invest in some quality stain proofing products. While the majority of carpeting comes with stain resistant treatments, you can also apply products like Scotch-Guard in a can which are excellent at resisting general dirt build up and daily grime. If the stains are already present there are a range of powdered stain removers and carpet shampoos that will return your carpeting to its best with minimal fuss, but industry experts recommend using only the mildest products to ensure no damage is done. Also, you may want to use a cleaning solution that can kill germs to reduce bacteria buildup within the pile.
Yet if the idea of using harsh chemicals on large surfaces in your home puts you of, then there are a number of natural alternatives that are just as effective. Natural carpet cleaning methods include:
- General Stains - gentle liquid soap and warm water and dab on the stain (never rub into carpet) or white vinegar with water
- Grease Stains - baking soda
- Red Wine Stains - club soda
- Odours – dust a box of baking soda over the carpet and vacuum it away after an hour
- Mould or Mildew Build up - lemon juice and salt solution for colour fabrics or lightly brush a solution of hydrogen peroxide (1 part of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to 5 parts of water), but be sure to test it out in a hidden area first so it doesn’t damage the carpet fibres
Regular Cleaning
Regular steam cleaning or even vacuuming will do wonders for the maintenance and general up keep of carpeting as it will regularly remove any dirt lodged within the fibres and prevent it from turning into a stubborn stain. Make sure you have a quality vacuum and use it at least once a week, especially over areas that get a lot of activity such as hallways as this will ensure that the quality of the carpets lasts longer while retaining the freshness of the fabric.
Common Carpet Cleaning Mistakes
- Many times people think that by scrubbing at a stain you will remove it, or “work it out”. This is a big mistake as all you are doing is spreading it into other surrounding fibres and weakening the area. Instead just cover a new stain with a cloth and apply pressure to ensure that all moisture is drawn out of the carpet and into the cloth. Then clean with stain remover.
- Never apply heat to a stain to dry it out as this will damage the fibres and even cause the stain to become permanent, depending on the stain.
- Using too strong cleaning products which damage or bleach the carpeting of colour. Only ever use mild products unless it is for a specific and stubborn stain, and even then test a small area first.
- Always follow the instructions on cleaning products.
- Get professional advice for fine carpeting (e.g. wool) for stubborn stains.
Extra Tip
Invest in a quality entrance mat that gives any guests the opportunity to wipe their shoes before they walk inside. Apparently 80 per cent of all soils found on carpet are dry, meaning they can possible be wiped at the door on a quality mat. Don’t forget that this mat should be cleaned also, otherwise people may get more dirt off it then they had before walking in.
