Despite your best efforts at cleanliness, your carpet will eventually become the victim of drops, spills, accidents, and whatever is on the bottom of your shoes. The following tips are recommendations from our rug cleaning and repair experts to help keep your carpets looking new:
1 | Blot Stains, Don’t Rub Them
Dab stains with a cleaning solution and a clean cloth, paper towels, or a sponge. The key is blotting. Blotting puts a small amount of pressure on the stain to soak it up. Always blot from the outside of the stain inward, as blotting outward can spread the stain.
2 | The Club Soda Process
You may have heard that club soda is effective against beer and wine stains. It’s true—if you use it correctly. Blot the area with the soda on a cloth. If that doesn’t work, mix one part white vinegar with one part water and pour it into a handheld sprayer. Spray the solution on the entire stained area and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to soak in. Then press a clean sponge onto the area to soak up the solution and the stain. You may have to repeat this process to eradicate the stain. Once the stain is gone, rinse the spot with warm water. Use your hand to brush the rug strands into their natural direction. Finally, lay white paper towels over the area and weigh them down with something heavy, like a phone book. The towels will absorb the dampness from the carpet. Leave the towels in place until it is dry, usually about one day.
3 | Try Shaving Cream
Turns out that the best carpet cleaner for general stains is ordinary shaving cream—it will remove just about every type of stain. Apply the shaving cream directly to the stain and let it set for about 30 minutes. Once the shaving cream has set, blot it away with a dry white cloth. Finish by spraying the area with one part vinegar mixed with one part water and then wiping away the solution with a cloth.
4 | Freeze-Dried Gum
You step in chewing gum out on the street but don’t realize it until you tracked that gross, sticky mess onto your carpet. To get it out, head to the freezer and grab a couple of ice cubes. Freeze the gum with ice cubes for about 30 seconds. Once the gum is frozen solid, use a spoon to lift up the glob and cut the strands of carpet as close to the gum as possible. If you cut only a small amount of carpet, the spot shouldn’t be noticeable.
5 | Heat Wax
Burning candles in the house can result in wax dripping onto rugs, where it quickly dries and gets embedded. The solution? Heating it back up to remove it. Place a white cloth over your iron, then put the iron on top of the wax to warm it up. Finally, scrape off the wax with a butter knife. When you are done doing that, lay a paper towel over the surface area and iron on the paper. The wax is melting and binds to the paper, and the wax will be gone after a few more applications. Important note: Don’t use the iron this way for more than 30 seconds or you risk burning the rug. And be sure to use a white cloth and white towels since colored ones can transfer the color onto the carpet when heated up, especially if you have a light-colored one.
6 | Clean Pet Accidents Organically
Even well-trained pets can have an accident on the carpet. Organic cleaners work best, which can costs about $10 for a spray bottle, rather than using chemicals. Spray the cleaner at the strain. Some scrubbing will be necessary. Then wipe up the cleaner with a cloth or towels.
7 | Candy Crushed
If you have kids in the house, it’s only a matter of time before candy ends up in the carpet. Try to scrape it with a spotter brush or a butter knife. Then, using a sponge, apply water mixed with a mild soap. It is important to get all of the sugar out of the area on the carpet. Failure to do so will result in that area attracting dirt and debris easily. Once the candy is removed, dry the spot by blotting it with a cloth or towels.
8 | Deep-Clean Regularly
Cleaning the carpet is essential to keeping it looking fresh and new.
We use the very latest, up to date rug cleaning products and equipment, in our in-house facility. Our specialized cleaning process has several comprehensive stages so you can be assured that our process is done thoroughly and with the utmost care for your rug. To keep your rugs in the best condition, it is recommended that you schedule a professional cleaning every 3-5 years.
You can drop your rug off at our rug cleaning facility in Virginia Beach, but we also offer home pickup and delivery to make it as convenient for you as possible.
Call us today at 757-333-1010 for more information.