So, you have a stain on your carpet. You decide to clean it up by yourself and do a little research online or in the library to find out the best way to do carpet cleaning in the home. In either case, you will likely find two schools of thought to clean a stain. Some say that it is best to use a commercial carpet cleaner, and some say it is better to clean the stain yourself first.
In most cases, the best thing to do is to clean it yourself. Why? Because a quality carpet cleaning machine can take care of many of the cleaning chores for you, saving you money. And one of the best things that they can do is to speed up the drying time. So, instead of waiting several days for a carpet cleaning company to dry your carpet, you can do it yourself in a matter of days. It cannot only be good for your budget but your carpets as well.
How to Clean Carpet At Home:
1. Apply a Solution On Stain Gently:
Before you do any carpet cleaning in the home, it is best to spot clean the carpet thoroughly. Don’t rub or scrub the stain. Instead, apply a solution containing carpet cleaning products to the stain and allow it to soak. Once the area has soaked, blot the area with a clean white cloth. It will help the stain soak up into the fabric much easier, preventing further staining the carpet.
2. Use Cleaning Machine:
One word of caution, though: When cleaning the home, it is important not to spray or wipe the stain. The liquid that is usually used to clean carpets contains chemicals that can damage the carpet fibers. Instead, use a cleaning machine to apply the cleaning product and blot the affected area with a clean white cloth.
The same holds when you are using a steam cleaning machine. You want to avoid rubbing the carpet fibers because the steam cleaner’s detergent to loosen dirt and clean the carpet can also damage the fibers. So, be sure to follow the directions of the cleaning machine that you are using. Again, it would be a good idea to read the cleaning machine’s instructions before you start cleaning.
3. Air Dry And Apply A Protective Coating:
After you have cleaned your carpet with your cleaning machine, allow it to air dry. It may seem counter-intuitive, but if you have carpeting made of natural fibers, drying it on an air conditioner may harm it more than cleaning it. So, after you have dried your carpet, you may want to apply a little bit of protective coating to prevent further damage to your carpet by allowing the moisture out.
Many people are surprised to find out that the best time to clean a carpet is in the morning. Many of us work during the day, and our carpets get dirty very quickly during the evening and into the morning hours. If you have a home vacuum cleaner, you will find this out for yourself if you ever took the time to look at your cleaning machine’s display. Vacuuming the carpet immediately after you finish vacuuming other rooms in your home will give your carpet a chance to dry that much faster.
Conclusion:
Finally, another tip for cleaning the home is never to use the same cleaning solutions or tools you used to clean your carpet elsewhere. For example, if you have a dry carpet and then vacuumed it, you can mix a carpet cleaning solution with some water to make a paste. You can then apply it to your carpet with a sponge and scrub it away. You may want to leave the solution on the carpet longer to remove as much of the solution as possible. That way, the carpet will not be damaged by the cleaning solution. However, if you use that same solution on another part of your carpet, such as underneath your rug, you may end up causing scratches on the carpet to clean it, which is a bad idea.
