A glass is knocked over during a pleasant birthday, or (grand)children mess with a cup of chocolate milk. A stain on your carpet just happened. But how do you get rid of those stains or unpleasant odors that remain? And how do you best keep your carpet clean afterward? We are happy to share our tips.
For the carpet cleaning services in Renton, contact Premier Janitorial. It is a well-known cleaning company.
Cleaning a stain in the carpet
To clean and keep your carpet clean, there are a number of steps you should follow. Treat the stain as soon as possible so that it does not set in.
Step 1: Determine the source
First, it is useful to find out what caused the stain. Has a glass with a drink fallen over, a plate with snacks, or is it something else? Not every stain needs the same treatment. For example, a red wine or mayonnaise stain does not require the same attention as a coffee stain.
Step 2: First aid for stains
Some stains don’t require special products but can be easily remedied with the help of things around the house! In addition to a carpet cleaner, you can think of baking soda, white vinegar or even shaving cream.
- White vinegar can be used to clean your carpet. Mix half a cup of vinegar with half a cup of water. Apply this to the stain and let it soak in for a while. Then you can dab it with a cloth.
- If you have baking soda at home, you can sprinkle it on the stain as soon as possible. Then pour a little water over it. Dab up the baking soda after letting it sit for several hours. If the stain is not completely gone, you can repeat this process.
- Shaving cream works as an inexpensive substitute for expensive carpet-cleaning mousse or shampoo. It is important that the shaving cream is colorless and contains no additives, such as menthol. Cover the stain completely with shaving cream. Wait 20 minutes for the shaving cream to set, then gently rub it into the carpet with a sponge. Then wet a clean cloth and dab on the foam.
The most important rule to remember here is that you should never rub. With this, you rub it deeper into the carpet. Instead, you better dab. Pour a generous amount of lukewarm water on the stain and blot gently with a cloth. Work from the outside in. Remove any lumps or hard pieces with a spoon or fork first.
Step 3: Thorough cleaning
Is the stain too stubborn to remove yourself? Don’t worry; products are developed for specific stains. These products work very well on red wine stains. You simply spread the bottle on the dry stain. That’s all! The product works for 12 hours and may be repeated.
Freshen up the smell of the carpet
After cleaning your carpet, the stench can linger. The carpet may also smell less pleasant for other reasons, such as cigarette smoke or pets. These unpleasant odors can easily be removed from your carpet with baking soda, white vinegar, or steaming.
Refreshing your carpet is very easy with white vinegar. Make a mixture of a teaspoon of white vinegar, a teaspoon of baking soda, and two cups of warm water. Put this in a spray bottle and spray your carpet with it to freshen it up.
Baking soda lasts the longest. First, sprinkle the entire carpet with fresh baking soda. Gently rub the salt into the carpet with a clean cloth. Leave it on for 24 hours and make sure no one is walking on the carpet. Then vacuum the carpet thoroughly.
Is the foul odor in the carpet very strong? Then pre-treat the carpet with a mixture of water and white vinegar. Dab this with a clean sponge or cloth on your entire carpet. Once it’s completely dried, you can still treat the carpet with baking soda.
The fastest way is with a steamer. Fill it with a special carpet cleaner, and do not walk on the carpet until it is completely dry.
General cleaning or maintenance
Even without stains or smells, it is hygienic to clean the carpet now and then. This can be done by vacuuming the carpet regularly or cleaning it once in a while with a carpet cleaner or steamer.
Cleaning the entire carpet is easiest with a steamer. You can rent these for a few hours at various hardware stores. Before you start, it is better if you vacuum your carpet thoroughly. Then fill the steamer with a good carpet cleaner and steam the carpet in straight lines.