Carpet Cleaning hacks

Carpets are the number one thing that can be used to turn any house into a real home. They add a touch of comfort, cosiness and homely aesthetic to any room, all the while absorbing the dust and dirt so that you don’t have to breathe them in. In return, all they ask for is a bit of care and maintenance once in a while. And, if you take care of them well, they will stay with you for years to come.

Some might say that carpet cleaning takes so much time. Well, that really depends on your approach. By choosing the right carpet cleaning approach, you can save yourself not only time and effort but also a bit of money in the long run. After all, carpets are an expensive, long-time purchase and deserve to be treated as such.

In this article, we’ve compiled for you a list of 5 carpet cleaning tricks that can help you tackle the most common carpet emergencies. Keep reading until the end and learn all about dealing with:

• Stains
• Nail Polish Spills
• Odours
• Chewing Gum
• And more!

How to clean your carpet with hydrogen peroxide

Did you know that hydrogen peroxide can provide you with a safer, cleaner and easier way to tackle most spills, stains and dirt? Yes, that’s right – you don’t need to invest in fancy detergents or famous carpet cleaning brands. A few drops of hydrogen peroxide, coupled with some general household ingredients can do the job just as well, and with no added cost for the environment.

For this carpet cleaning method, you’ll need:

• 3/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide
• 5 drops of your favourite essential oil
• Half a cup of white vinegar
• 2 tbsp of fabric softener
• 2 tbsp of dish soap
• A gallon of hot (but not boiling!) water
• A pair of rubber gloves
• Just mix your ingredients in a suitable bowl and get to cleaning.

Bring out the clothes Iron!

There are many techniques for dealing with stains out there, many of which feature green and eco-friendly alternatives. In our article today, we’ll be having a look at one such method, involving white vinegar. For this procedure, you’ll want to prepare:

• Your clothes iron
• Your vacuum cleaner
• A bit of water
• Some white vinegar
• A pair of rubber gloves
• A clean towel or rag

Begin your spot removal procedure by thoroughly vacuuming the problematic area. Give it a couple of good, long sweeps, just to be sure that there’s no debris or moisture left on the spot. Then, put your rubber gloves on (as you always should before undertaking any sort of cleaning task, at home or otherwise) and mix your water with the white vinegar, using a 3:1 ratio. Apply the concoction directly to the spot (either by using a spray bottle or dampening a mop and blotting the area out) and give it about 10 minutes to do its magic. Follow up by covering the area with the towel and get to ironing.

A word of caution: This method works by transferring the stain from your carpet into the towel or rag. Therefore, it’d be wise to avoid picking a towel that you have a particular liking to.

Remove oil stains with baking soda

Everyone knows how annoying oil can be to get out of your carpets. Sadly, even the famous dabbing technique can fall short here, as the hot water sometimes just doesn’t pack enough of a punch to get through the oil. But if you’re in this situation, don’t worry – baking soda has you covered. To make this method work, you’ll get:

• Some baking soda
• Clean hot water
• A clean cloth or rag
• Your vacuum cleaner
• A pair of rubber gloves

Begin by liberally sprinkling baking soda across the stained area and leave it there until you notice that a crust has started forming. After sufficient time has passed, you can proceed to break up the crust and vacuum any of the larger debris. This will take care of most of the oil, leaving you with a much smaller, and much more manageable stain, which can then be taken care of using the hot water dabbing technique.

Tackle Nail Polish with Rubbing Alcohol

Yes, rubbing alcohol does indeed deal with nail polish on your carpet. However, you don’t really want most types of rubbing alcohol coming directly in touch with your carpet, as they can damage not only the fabrics but also create a health hazard. To avoid this, after putting on your protective gloves, you can dab a piece of clean cloth in just a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol and carefully pat the problematic area. This will transfer the nail polish from the fabric into the piece of cloth, leaving you with a spotless and good as new carpet.

Deodorise your carpet with Baking Soda

To create your own carpet freshener and get rid of any nasty odours once and for all, you’ll once again be relying on baking soda. Open your cleaning supplies cabinet and grab:

• A bottle of essential oils
• A 16-ounce box of baking soda
• A pair of rubber gloves
• A suitable dish
• Your trusty vacuum cleaner

Simply mix the soda with about 20 drops of your essential oil of choice and liberally sprinkle it across your carpet. Give it no longer than half an hour and give the entire area a good vacuuming. The effect of this mixture is twofold – the baking soda will work to absorb any bad smells, while the essential oils freshen up the fabric.

© Carpet Cleaners