Getting a stain on a favorite carpet is the greatest horror of all, especially when it costs a fortune. But do not fret, there are simple, safe and effective ways to get your carpets out of a messy situation. Here are 10 tips and tricks to make cleaning carpets a breeze.
- Deodorize your carpets naturally
All you need is some baking soda. Sprinkle a liberal amount over the carpet and wait hours before you vacuum. For an added scent, mix some essential oils, like lavender, bergamot, bamboo or lemon with the baking soda.
- Remove Kool-Aid stains on your carpet
Wet a washcloth and put it over the stain. Set your iron in the lowest setting and without pressing down, put the iron over the wet washcloth. Leave the iron on the washcloth for about 15 minutes until it dries up. If the stain is still there, repeat the process. Once the stain is gone, blot the area and leave to dry.
- Upholstery and carpet stain removers
To make an upholstery and carpet stain remover, fill half of a 500mL spray bottle with warm water. Then, fill the other half with some vinegar and add 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap. Spray this on carpet and upholstery stains as soon as you can, until the stain is soaked. Then, rub the stain with a damp cloth.
- Remove nail polish stains from carpets
Wet the nail polish stains with cold water. Get a hairspray and give the stain 15-20 pumps and follow it with 4-5 splashes of rubbing alcohol. Scrub the stain directly for a minute, while continuously pouring cold water on it. Repeat the process until the stain disappears.
- Steam clean your carpet
This involves mixing 1 tablespoon of Castile soap with every quart of near-boiling water into the machine. This leaves some soap residue on the carpet so, you need to make a rinsing mixture of 50-50 vinegar and an essential oil for added fragrance. Just don't use citrus oils as it produces an orange stain. For best results, you can always call carpet cleaning services, to help you out.
- Mold and mildew begone
If your carpets have mold and mildew, use a mixture of lemon juice and salt to make a paste. Rub the paste onto the carpet stain and let dry under the sun. Repeat the process until the mold and mildew have disappeared.
- Deal with carpet spills immediately
Mix one part vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. This will serve as your all-purpose spill eliminator for all types of spills.
- Steam clean your carpets as often as you can
Steam cleaning has a lot of benefits and to sum it all up, it gets rid of any bacteria and viruses that might be lurking in your carpets. It gives you and your family a safe and healthy home.
- Vacuum your carpets often
This keeps dust and debris away from your carpets. It also gives your carpets stay longer and looking new.
- Carpet cleaning need not be costly
Don't use carpet shampoo, use hot water instead. This is just as effective as using a carpet shampoo without the added cost. Hot water can get the grime out of your carpets, just make sure the water is really hot.
These tips and tricks would hopefully help you out when you are cleaning your carpets. Half of the materials used are already in your own homes just waiting to be discovered of their other uses. They make cleaning-up fun, easier, faster and much safer. You will never look at cleaning the same way ever again.
Thanks for the tip of using hairspray to get rid of nail polish stains from my carpet! My dog knocked over my sister’s nail polish while she was trying to paint her nails this morning. My mom is really mad at her right now, and she’s been looking for ways to get rid of the stain. I’ll try your tip with the hairspray later, then wash the carpet with really hot water as you said. If the stain still won’t budge, I’ll tell my mom to call a carpet cleaning service this weekend. Thanks a lot!