How To Clean Your Carpets

It may still be cold outside, but despite the nip in the air, the nights are drawing out and the days are getting longer, hoorah, it’s official, Spring is just around the corner!  So, if like the rest of us, you find yourself coming out of hibernation with an urge to freshen up your home, what better place to begin than with your carpets.  With a little luck, the muddy months should soon be behind us, so if winter has taken its toll on your carpets then don’t panic as we are here to help you put the freshness back in your flooring with our jam-packed guide on how to clean your carpets at home.

How To Clean Carpet Stains

Whether it’s a freshly laid carpet or a carpet you have taken good care of over the years, there’s nothing worse than discovering a fresh stain on your beloved flooring.  The key to successful stain removal is to act quickly, especially if it is liquid-based as soaking up the moisture quickly reduces the chances of the stain penetrating the fibres.  Next, we will guide you through some of the most popular spills and stains.

Liquid Stains 

Given the recent festive period, there’s a strong chance you may have encountered the odd spillage. Red wine, cocktails, gin-soaked red berries and celebratory sherries are prime culprits for bright red stains, but of course, there’s also the risk of everyday stains from tea, coffee and other liquids.  As mentioned above, speed is of the essence in these situations, therefore, using a clean cloth, blot the area as much as possible to remove the excess, pour cold water onto the stain to dilute and continue to blot until you have soaked up as much as possible, then you can assess the damage and follow one of the following methods:

  • SALT METHOD – Apply a generous amount of salt to the area, this will help to draw the moisture and stain out of the carpet.  Once dry, remove the excess salt and vacuum.
  • WHITE VINEGAR METHOD – Using white vinegar, mix 1 part vinegar, 1 part washing up liquid and two parts water together.  Soak a clean cloth in the mixture and apply to the area.  Using a separate damp cloth, blot away the mixture.  Repeat until the stain has gone.
  • BAKING SODA METHOD – Mix baking soda with a little water to create a paste.  Apply an even coverage to the stain, allow it to dry and remove by vacuuming.

Mud stains

A common complaint during the winter months throughout many homes is muddy stains.  Footprints, paw prints and everything in between, mud can be tricky to remove if left untreated, but unlike liquid stains, it is best to let the mud dry, then:

  • Remove any large pieces of mud and vacuum the rest away.
  • Apply a carpet shampoo or carpet cleaner to the area, making sure to follow any application instructions.
  • Blot away the solution then allow it to dry.
  • Repeat if necessary.

Wax Stains

There’s nothing more relaxing than settling down to a cosy candlelit evening after a busy day, but what if it all goes wrong and a candle is knocked over spilling wax onto your carpet?!  Don’t panic, there are 2 methods to try that will revive your carpet which are:

  • ICE METHOD – Place an ice pack or bag of ice over the wax stain and allow it to harden.  When it is solid, take a blunt knife and gently scrape the wax off the carpet.  Vacuum the area to remove any small wax pieces then clean with a carpet cleaner or carpet shampoo to restore the carpet fibres.
  • HEAT METHOD – Using a brown paper bag or sheet of brown paper, place it over the stain and lightly iron over it on a warm setting, not hot and don’t use any steam.  As the heat penetrates the wax, it will soak the wax into the brown paper, so you will need to move the paper around and repeat with a fresh part of the brown paper until the wax is fully saturated.  Then, clean the area with carpet shampoo or cleaner and your carpet will be good as new.

Top Tips On How To Clean Carpet Stains

  1. Act quickly – The sooner you clean the stain, the less chance it has to sink in.
  2. Always blot, never rub as this will only work the stain further into the carpet.
  3. Always carry out a patch test when using any new carpet cleaning solutions.
  4. Only use diluted bleach on 100% Polypropylene carpets as bleach will lift colour from any other carpet type.
  5. Brush the pile back into place before the carpet dries to maintain its appearance.   

 

Time to replace your carpets?

If you have tried all of the above stain removal techniques but your carpets remain lacklustre, then it could be time to replace them.  Take a look at the Pay Weekly Carpets, Vinyl and Laminate for affordable flooring solutions with no credit checks and low weekly payments.

For more information on any of our products, why not give our friendly team a call on 0800 731 3028 who are more than happy to guide you through our quick and easy order process.