How and what to clean the carpet at home quickly and effectively
Today, many different floor coverings are produced, but despite this, carpet is still popular. The main advantages of this piece of furniture are its soft surface and durability. Among the minuses is the need to periodically clean the carpet. Therefore, you need to know how to clean the carpet at home.
The importance of washing and cleaning carpets
Some people just vacuum the carpet without removing it from the floor and think that's enough, but it's not. It should be cleaned and washed regularly to remove dirt from the surface.
There are several reasons why you should clean carpet products:
- Accumulation of dust. For 1-2 years, several kilograms of dust accumulate in the carpets on the floor.Due to the presence of dust in people, the protective functions of the body weaken, breathing deteriorates, and signs of allergies develop.
- The appearance of small insects. Dirty carpets are ideal conditions for the development of small insects and microorganisms. Fleas and mites are common in carpet surfaces. Also, in dusty places, E. coli and other bacteria that are dangerous to human health thrive.
Varieties of procedures
There are several effective carpet cleaning methods that you should know about.
Dry cleaning
People who have natural pile products on the floor at home will need to dry them. To do this, the surface is carefully vacuumed to remove all debris. Then the carpet is sprinkled with cleaning powder, after which it is carefully rubbed with a brush. The remains of powder are removed using a vacuum cleaner or a broom.
Wet cleaning
Before you can clean the carpet on the floor in an apartment, you need to understand the characteristics of wet cleaning. When using this cleaning method, use detergents. First, the solution is stirred well so that a foam forms in the bottle. Then the foam is evenly applied to the surface of the product and rubbed with a brush. When the carpet is dry, it is vacuumed to remove any detergent residue.
We clean with snow
Residents of private houses prefer to clean carpets outdoors in the snow. For this, the rug is taken out and laid so that its fleece is in the snow. In this position, the rug should lie for at least half an hour, after which it is turned over, covered with snow and rubbed with a brush. At the end of the procedure, all the snow that remains on the surface is swept away with a broom.
In a washing machine
If the mat is not too large and heavy, it can be machine washed. This wash is considered an excellent choice for cleaning acrylic, polypropylene or cotton items.
When cleaning the carpet in the washing machine, you can use ordinary powder or liquid detergents. Before washing in the washing machine, select a mode in which the water will not be heated above thirty-five degrees.
Benefits of car wash services
People who do not want to clean carpets themselves use special car wash services. They can help you get your carpet cleaned quickly for a small fee. The main advantage of these car washes is that they can clean and restore even the dirtiest carpets.
Cleaning tools and technology
It's no secret that rugs are made from a variety of materials. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with the cleaning characteristics of the main varieties of carpets.
Shag Flooring
Long-haired clothes are the most difficult to clean because they get dirty quickly and absorb dust. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean the surface so that dirt does not accumulate on it. To do this, use an ammonia solution.
To prepare the mixture, add 100 milliliters of alcohol to a bucket of water, after which the liquid is heated on a gas stove. Then a soft brush is moistened in the solution and the carpet is cleaned.
Low-pile carpet
Low-pile carpets are the most common. They are easy to maintain as they tolerate wet and dry cleaning. When cleaning these mats, use a regular soapy liquid of shampoo and water.The soapy solution is applied to the surface using a spray bottle and rubbed in with a dry cloth or brush.
Synthetic coatings
Synthetic products are unpretentious in maintenance and do not need wet cleaning. To keep synthetic carpets clean, it is enough to pass them 2 to 3 times a week.
Dark
Some people think dark rugs are easy to clean, but that's not the case. They cannot be treated with solutions containing starch or soda. When using such products, bright spots remain on the surface. Experts advise instead to use ammonia, which quickly cleans the coat and makes it softer.
Lightweight rugs
Carpets with light pile should not be treated with detergents containing lemon juice. After applying such solutions, small yellow spots appear on the pile. Light-colored carpets are best cleaned with soapy laundry detergent, which will quickly remove stains.
Colored
To wash the stained palate, use a soda solution. Baking soda is considered a versatile product that will help clean any surface. To prepare a soda solution, add half a glass of powder to five liters of cold water. After that, the liquid is sprayed on the carpet surface. All stains will disappear in 40-50 minutes.
Rugs made from natural materials
Be very careful when cleaning carpets made from natural materials. Cotton rugs should not get wet and should therefore be dry cleaned. It is also contraindicated to clean them with a brush and soda solution.
How to clean silk, rayon and sisal rugs
Silk products do not tolerate humidity well and should therefore not be cleaned with liquid products. Experts advise dry cleaning using a vacuum cleaner. It is also not easy to clean viscose rugs. They should not be rubbed as this may damage the surface.
The sisal carpet is made from natural fibers, which can deteriorate due to humidity. Therefore, when removing stains, use only dry cleaning.
wool carpet
Wool rugs should not be washed with cleaning agents and bleaches, as they are sensitive to chemical components. In order not to accidentally damage the surface of the wool rug, only use a dry method when cleaning.
How to dry your carpet
People who use wet cleaning sometimes find it difficult to dry it. There are several methods for drying damp carpets:
- Dry towels. Experts advise using dry towels if the carpet has been partially cleaned. To dry the carpet faster, wipe the wet area several times with a sheet, towel or other cloth.
- Washing machine vacuum cleaner. To remove moisture, you can use special models of vacuum cleaners that allow you to collect not only garbage, but also water.
- Hair dryer. Another common way to dry carpets is to use a hair dryer. When using this appliance, take care that hot air does not damage the surface. The distance between the hair dryer and the carpet should be 25-30 centimeters.
- Hang out. If cleaning is done in late spring or summer, hang the rug outside. In this case, it should be hung so that the sun's rays fall on it. The mat will dry in the sun in 4-5 hours.
How to effectively remove stains and dirt at home
Many people prefer to get rid of stubborn carpet stains without a vacuum cleaner. Before you start cleaning, you need to choose an effective product that will help remove various stains.
Berries, honey and butter
Most often, food stains remain on the surface of carpets. The most dangerous contamination is honey stains. They should be discarded immediately, as the honey is quickly absorbed into the pile. To clean honey stains, use a mixture of soda and laundry soap.
You also need to quickly clean carpet products from grease and stains left after berries or vegetables. In this case, use apple cider vinegar mixed with soapy water.
paint and ink
Ink and paint are not easy to remove, as they erode instantly into the fabric. The only effective remedy for these stains is salt. It is poured over ink stains and filled with soapy water for 10-15 minutes. Then the stains are treated with lemon juice or a vinegar solution.
Wax, paraffin, modeling clay and glue
A special scraper is used to remove stains from glue, plasticine, paraffin or wax. The contaminated area of the carpet is covered with ice for 5-8 minutes, after which the frozen spots are carefully scraped off with a scraper.
Instead of ice, you can use heated water to slightly soften the hardened stain. It is carefully poured with hot liquid and scraped. The procedure is carried out until the surface is completely cleaned.
Urine smell
To eliminate the smell of urine, use club soda or vinegar:
- A soda.Before using the soda, remove all moisture from the surface of the mat with a dry towel. Then a thick porridge is made from soda, which is applied to the stain with urine. After 15-20 minutes it is washed off with cold water.
- The vinegar. When preparing a solution, 20 milliliters of vinegar are mixed with one liter of water and 100 milliliters of detergent. Liquid vinegar is poured over the stain and washed off after half an hour.
Wool
Pet owners have to spend a lot of time cleaning the wool carpet. To do this, you can use a damp broom or a vacuum cleaner. Further, wool is removed from the surface with a damp cloth.
dirt
Sometimes in a very dirty carpet the dirt is strongly eaten away and because of this it is not possible to get rid of it for a long time. To quickly remove old dirt stains, use a steam cleaner. The cleaning procedure is carried out 2-3 times so that even traces of dirt do not remain on the surface of the carpet.
How to Get Rid of Bad Carpet Smells
Often carpets have an odor that you want to get rid of as soon as possible. There are several ways to eliminate unpleasant odors:
- Aeration. The stench of the carpet appears if it is not hung on the street for a long time. Therefore, when the aroma appears, the palate is immediately taken out into the fresh air so that it can be ventilated for several hours. While it hangs in the street, all dust must be removed from it.
- The dishes. Wet cleaning will help get rid of the unpleasant smell emanating from the carpet. When cleaning, it is best to use hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda or dish soap. The carpet is washed with the mixture at least twice. After washing, the rug is rinsed and taken out to dry faster.
Conclusion
Almost all apartments have a carpet on the floor. Over time, the rug gets dirty and needs to be cleaned. Before that, you need to familiarize yourself with the main methods of carpet cleaning and how to get rid of unpleasant odors.