Cleaning
How to clean your carpet
Carpets endure a lot – from spilled food to being trampled on by muddy shoes or paws. While a quick vacuum can pick up some of the larger bits of dirt, it won’t be enough to clean a heavily soiled or stained carpet. Don’t worry, spills happen to the best of us, but regardless of whether you’ve accidently knocked over some red wine or dropped some snacks, it’s a good idea to deep clean your carpet fairly regularly. We’ll show you how with our top carpet cleaning hacks.
Preparing your carpet
Before we dive straight in, it’s a good idea to prepare your carpet for a deep clean:
- When cleaning up fresh liquid stains, it’s best to soak up excess liquid immediately using a cloth or paper towel. Try to pat the area dry as much as you can.
- Vacuum the carpet thoroughly before a deep clean.
Best way to clean a carpet
We all love that soft feeling of carpet beneath our feet, but when left unwashed for a long time, carpets can collect a lot of dirt, dead skin, and hair, quickly turning them into a breeding ground for dust mites. Regular vacuuming is great, but it won’t be enough to get rid of tenacious gunk or stains No wonder then that a carpet cleaning is recommended every three to six months. But in many cases, there’s no need to buy an expensive carpet cleaner.
You can use 20 Mule Team Borax™ to help clean old and new spills and stains like wine, juice, and coffee off your carpet. Borax is all-natural and free of chlorine and phosphates.
To remove new spills and stains, here’s what you’ll need:
- Borax
- Clean cotton rags
- A metal spoon
- Spray bottle with cold water
- Paper towels
- Heavy books
Directions:
- Soak up the spill by blotting it with a clean cotton rag or paper towel. Be sure not to rub the spill as that will push it further into the carpet fibers.
- Once you’ve blotted as much of the spill as possible, spray the area with cold water and then sprinkle some Borax on the spill. Then cover it with a damp rag and press on the rag with the back of the spoon to rub the Borax into the stain
- Blot the area again using a clean cloth to remove the excess liquid. If the spill has not been totally removed, repeat steps 2 and 3 until the spill is gone.
To spot clean older spills and stains, here’s what you’ll need:
- Salt
- Borax
- Vinegar
- Mixing bowl
- Rubber spatula or spoon
- Vacuum
Directions:
- Mix equal parts salt, Borax and vinegar into a mixing bowl to create a paste.
- Apply the paste to your carpet stain using a rubber spatula or spoon. Work into the paste into the stain and then let it dry completely.
- After the paste has dried, vacuum it up. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.
How to clean a heavily soiled carpet
If the above methods are not working or your carpet is heavily stained, you may need to get a carpet cleaner or call in the professionals. Our top carpet cleaning tips can help make the process easier.
To remove stains or pre-treat spills:
- Purchase a commercial carpet cleaning product. Make sure to follow directions according to the product manual or instructions.
- For some stains such as blood, you may need to buy a special cleaning product.
Carpet cleaners can cost anywhere between $100 to $400. You could also rent one from a home improvement store or borrow one from a friend.
- Fill the tank of the carpet cleaner with water and carpet cleaning liquid. Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
- Start to move the machine across the carpet several times. If possible, try not to apply too much cleaning liquid as that could leave a residue.
- Remove excess water from the carpet. You can simply touch the carpet to see how much moisture has been retained.
- Leave the carpet to dry fully which may take several hours.
- Vacuum again to pick up any excess dried shampoo or loosened dirt.