Stains, spills, and pet accidents are inevitable no matter how much you try to keep your carpet clean. So, what happens when you are faced with a challenging task regarding cleaning, renewing, or sanitizing your carpets? Here are some rug cleaning hacks that will make your life so much easier.
But, first and foremost, let’s go over some tips that will help you buy the best carpet for your requirements.
What to Look at When Buying a Carpet
1. Determine its Quality by Considering its:
Weight
Normally, the heavier a carpet is, the more fibers it has. Manufacturing a carpet with lots of fibers into it means that it will last longer than one with fewer fibers.
Fiber Type
A rug’s durability is closely associated with its fibers. The most common types of fibers used for manufacturing carpets are wool, acrylic, polyester, and nylon. Now, the construction of the fiber type defines the rug’s performance and appearance.
Density
Density will determine the lifespan of your carpet. You should make a decision based on the foot traffic your carpet will get. For example, if you place it in a high traffic area, you need a high-density carpet to make cleaning easier and resist dirt. For low foot traffic, a multi-level loop carpet or a cut pile one are better options.
Maintenance & Cleaning Equipment
Check the instructions or ask the salesperson how often you will need to maintain and clean the carpet. Rugs with increased care requirements should be avoided unless you have no problem getting a rug cleaning expert do the cleaning for you when needed.
Rug Cleaning Home-Made Concoctions
Important Note: Always run a test on a small area, especially the first time, before you proceed with the cleaning.
1. Get rid of Dents with Ice Cubes
Fluff up rugs tend to create dents. An easy and quick way to remove them is by placing an ice cube on the (cleaned) surface. Allow them to melt and then damp with a soft, clean towel. Leave to air dry completely before you vacuum. Lift up the fiber using a spoon.
2. Steam Clean with White Vinegar
If you own a steam cleaner, you can sanitize and clean your carpet at any given time. To be even more effective, you can mix (in one gallon of warm water):
- ¼ cup of white vinegar (if you can get your hands on distilled white vinegar that would be awesome)
- ¼ cup of liquid soap (bleach-free ALWAYS)
- A few drops of essential oil (use your favorite one)
Pour the solution into the steam cleaner’s reservoir and clean he carpet as usual.
3. Dry Clean with Bay Leaves
Blend:
- 1 cup of baking soda
- 2 bay leaves (alternatively you can use 1 tablespoon of whole cloves)
- ¼ cup of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of Borax
Blend well until all ingredients are powdered. Transfer the mixture into a sprinkle top container and sprinkle it on the carpet. Let it sit for a couple of hours and then clean with a vacuum cleaner.
Tip: You can use this concoction as a carpet freshener, too!
4. Dry Clean and Refresh with Essential Oils
For this one, you will need:
- a sprinkle top container
- 2 cups of baking soda
- 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil.
Mix the ingredients well and sprinkle the mixture on the carpet. Let it sit for a few minutes and then clean. This hack is also effective if you want to remove kitchen or pet urine odors.
5. Remove Stains with Iron
Another easy and simple solution composed of water and white vinegar (ration 2:1). Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Before you start spraying to the stained area, always clean the surface well. Prepare your iron. Take a clean, damp towel and lay it over the spot. Run your iron on it for a few seconds. For persistent stains, repeat the same process.
Important Note: If your stains are ink or dye, it is NOT recommended to use vinegar as it will make things worse. Better address a professional carpet cleaner in this case.
6. Get Rid of Pet Accidents
Pet urine and feces on the carpet is not a pleasant or easy task to handle. Stains are usually permanent is not attended to immediately so the sooner you take care of them the better. Besides filling up the air with nasty odors, pet urine also attracts dust mites and termites, cause skin disease and allergies, if not properly managed. To remove pet stains from your carpet you need to prepare:
- ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide (only 3%, anything higher will be too much)
- 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid soap (colorless)
Make sure there are no pet urine and feces on the carpet. Spray the stained area with the hydrogen peroxide solution and then sprinkle some baking soda to cover. Leave for a few minutes and remove the powder with a vacuum cleaner. For more cleaning tips, feel free to read How to Treat Pet Puddles on Woven Rugs, as well as the Dangers of Pet Urine on Rugs.
Important Note: Always run a test on a small area of the carpet before moving on to cleaning the carpet using this method as the solution is a bit sensitive.
7. Remove Stubborn Stains
Stains such as food colorings and hair dye, as well as old stains that haven’t been removed, can be a pain in the neck. This solution is also sensitive, so run a test, as mentioned above.
For this concoction, you will need:
- 2 bottle sprays
- 1/3 cup of ammonia
- 2 cups of water
- 2 cups of warm water
- 2 tablespoons of Oxiclean
Prepare the first bottle with the ammonia and water and the second one with the warm water and Oxiclean.
You will also need a bucket* filled with:
- 1/3 cup of ammonia
- 1 tablespoon Oxiclean
- 1 tablespoon laundry detergent
*You will need the bucket to wash and clean the towels you will use to blot the stain on the rug.
Start by spraying the stain with the ammonia mixture. Blot the surface with a clean towel to absorb the stain. Make sure you rinse the towel on the bucket with the Oxiclean mixture before you repeat the process (as many times as needed until the towel comes out clean, with no stain stuck to it). Then spray the spot with the ammonia-Oxiclean solution and blot the spot with the clean towel. Allow to dry completely. If you still see stains left on the rug, you can either repeat the process or ask a pro for some help.
Do you have issues cleaning your rug’s fringe? Questions like “What can you do to renew your carpet” or “How often do I need to clean my carpet” still bug you? Well, after reading these pieces, they will be a thing of the past!
