Carpets add comfort and style to rooms but can trap and hold dirt and debris. Frequent vacuuming, spot removal, and occasional deep cleaning keep your carpets looking good and smelling fresh.
Dry cleaning with an absorbent compound is a low-moisture process suitable for carpets that shouldn’t get wet. It involves spreading the compound mixture over the carpet, agitating it, and then vacuuming the compound and dirt.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming daily removes soil particles before they can damage carpet fibers. It also helps remove airborne allergens that can trigger sneezing and watery eyes.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush or turbo-powered attachment to reach deeper into carpet fibers. The spinning action of these brushes also helps to loosen dirt trapped within carpet fibers.
When dealing with stains, blot liquids quickly with white cloths or paper towels (no prints or colors). Semisolid stains should be scooped up with a spoon, and solids can be scraped up with a razor blade. Be sure to trim your pets’ nails and claws to reduce the dirt they track onto your carpeting.
Regarding carpet odors, a nontoxic solution that requires no water is a sprinkle of baking soda mixed with salt. Liberally apply this mixture to a 3-foot by 3-foot area, working in a grid pattern. Before proceeding, spray the area with a diluted vinegar solution to test colorfastness.
Hot Water Extraction
Hot water extraction is a common carpet cleaning technique that involves spraying hot water and cleaning solution onto the carpet. It works to shake loose dirt particles and stains from the fibers, and then the high-powered vacuum extracts it all, leaving your carpets looking fresh and clean.
Before cleaning, vacuum the area to remove dry soil and fluff the carpet fiber. Next, you should use a stain treatment product to treat the stains you want to get rid of.
Professional cleaners like All-Star Cleanpro – Carpet Cleaning Denver use a truck-mounted extraction machine, which is more powerful than home units. It allows them to get deep into the pile layer of your carpet to get at the accumulated dirt, toxins, and allergens.
If you have an old wax stain that has hardened and is embedded in your carpet, Tarbox recommends heating it to a liquid state before removing it. Then, place several white paper towels over the spot and weigh them down with a heavy object to absorb the moisture.
Bonnet Cleaning
You’ve seen someone operating a buffer machine in hotel lobbies late at night, cleaning and buffing the carpet. This is bonnet cleaning, a quick and inexpensive method that produces excellent results for slightly dirty carpets.
This process involves spraying a diluted cleaning solution on the carpet. A special absorbent spin pad is then attached to a floor machine, scrubbing the carpet. The rotary motion helps to dislodge and remove stains. The bonnet is flipped often and rinsed to avoid over-wetting and a sticky residue. Choosing the right cleaning chemicals is important, as too much can cause friction burns and void any carpet warranties.
Moving all furniture away from the cleaned area is also a good idea. This will give technicians access to all areas of the carpet. Before the technician starts the cleaning, they should test for colorfastness in an inconspicuous spot. A colorfastness test ensures the carpet will not fade or discolor when cleaned.
Dry Powder Cleaning
The most effective way to clean carpets is to remove soil and stains as they occur. When they’re treated quickly, stains are almost always completely removed. For small stains, press a clean white cloth on the stain and blot gently until the stain is gone. To remove more persistent stains, consult a stain removal chart and follow the cleaning instructions carefully.
Dry powder cleaning is a low-moisture process that uses chemical solvents to break down dirt particles and isolate them from the carpet fibers. This method is a great option for high-traffic areas because it immediately returns to full use without requiring lengthy drying times.
Avoid damaging your carpets by using the correct cleaning methods and performing regular deep cleanings to keep them looking their best. Also, place doormats outside all entrance doors and remove shoes to prevent tracking in dirt. And remember to clean your carpets before they look dirty – once your carpet looks dull, removing stains and soil becomes much more difficult and time-consuming.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.