How to clean a carpet at home

Carpet is a universal and now popular floor covering. Like carpets, it consists of small fibers, in which dust, dirt particles quickly accumulate, and especially so much pollution and darkening are visible on a light carpet. Therefore, you need to know how to clean the fluffy flooring at home, using special substances from the department of household chemicals or improvised means.

Varieties of carpet

When choosing a floor covering, it is imperative to consider what methods can be used to clean it, how long it will take, strength, maybe it will take an appeal to professionals. To avoid future troubles, it is better to immediately arm yourself with knowledge. So, the carpet is of the following types, depending on the base material:

1. Natural - such a coating cannot be cleaned with water and detergents, since it dries for a very long time (and the longer the fibers, the process is delayed), and as a result, mold can occur.
2. From natural wool pile - to clean it, you just need to walk thoroughly on the carpet with a vacuum cleaner.
3. Synthetic - picky during cleaning, it can be washed and vacuum cleaned.
4. With a glue base - also does not accept water, otherwise the silicate glue in the base of the coating may deform or peel off, and the carpet will be irreparably damaged.

In addition to the composition of the base, one should also take into account the material of which the pile itself consists (it can be natural, artificial or combine both options), and its type - the way of weaving, length, degree of uniformity.

Tools and methods for cleaning carpet

Not all chemicals that are on the shelves of specialized stores and declare on their labels that they are ideal for cleaning carpets are really worth buying. Here, again, it all depends on the base material and the type of pile. Therefore, be sure to find out what is right for you so as not to spoil the coating.

So, for different types of carpet, the following tools may be suitable:

• vinegar;
• soda;
• conventional detergents, liquid or powder;
• Carpet Cleaners

To apply the compositions, a soft brush, preferably a natural one, or a sponge is suitable for you - they will not only help to evenly distribute detergents, but also raise the pile.

There are dry and wet ways to clean the floor. Dry is a mandatory weekly procedure that is carried out using a vacuum cleaner. Thus, you do not allow a large number of particles of dirt to accumulate between the villi, respectively, then it will be easier to carry out "general" cleaning. Of course, in order to vacuum the carpet, it is better to use a spiral brush in the shape of the letter S, since it is more effective specifically for fleecy coatings. In addition, it is recommended that before starting dry cleaning, distribute a special powder or dry foam, withstand a certain amount of time, and then remove it with a vacuum cleaner.

With a wet cleaning method, either a washing vacuum cleaner or a sponge or brush and a special shampoo are used. The vacuum cleaner will greatly facilitate the work, but for his lack of it is quite possible to clean "the old fashioned way." This method is not recommended to be resorted to more than once a month, otherwise the coating may lose its color and wipe. The shampoo is distributed on the carpet with a vacuum cleaner or sponge, and then, after a few minutes, when the coating is completely saturated, and the dirt goes away, it is removed in the same way.For the most resistant stains it is necessary to use a stain remover, but this agent should be handled very carefully, especially if it has a bleaching effect (for light coatings). Also, with the help of a stain remover or other concentrated detergents, you can remove stains that have arisen on the carpet, but try to strictly observe the proportions, otherwise the product may discolor, and if there is liquor in the composition, burn out.

Wet cleaning is not suitable for all types of coatings, so if your carpet is made of natural materials or glue-based, try to avoid liquids on it.

As a compromise, an intermediate option between dry and wet cleanings, you can use dry foam. The instructions for the tool describe the method of its preparation and the exposure time. To do this, dilute a certain amount of powder in water (there should be a little) to form a steep foam. After that, it is applied with a sponge or brush to the surface of the product, but it does not need to be rubbed. After a few minutes, the foam begins to respond to pollution and eliminate them, and during this process, it settles. And when it completely settles - you can thoroughly vacuum the carpet in normal mode and remove the product.

This method is universal, but, as well as with wet cleaning, you should not resort to it more often than once a month. The ideal frequency of “general” carpet cleaning is once every couple of months, provided that it is regularly cleaned with a vacuum cleaner.

Popular methods for cleaning carpet

Time is bearing fruit, and over the decades of the existence of this type of flooring, housewives have invented their own ways to deal with its pollution. Only one main condition remains - all spots must be removed on time, as soon as they appear. Do not let them get old, eat into the carpet, and then you can effectively clean it without damage.

1. If ink, nail polish, or paint is not very resistant to contact, moisten the sponge with acetic acid, a 50% solution. Gently rub the stain, and after it disappears, blot the area that has been treated and the area next to it with a clean, damp sponge or cloth.
2. Blood can be easily removed with a soap solution with the addition of liquor (not more than 10% of the total composition). After treatment, rinse the area with 10% acetic solution, and finally with warm water.
3. Stains from drinks (tea, coffee, juice, sweet soda) most often appear on the carpet, they can be removed using an alcohol-vinegar solution made from six parts of alcohol and four parts of vinegar. At the end, the place of the former spot must be treated with clean water.
4. Another means of dealing with stains, especially persistent ones, that can appear from tar or spilling liquids that contain acid or liquor is ammonia. In a ratio of 10 to 1, it must be diluted in clean cold water (it is better to immediately stock up with a gauze bandage, which will slightly block the smell), and then apply to the contaminated place until the stain disappears and dry. In this case, do not rinse the area where there was a stain with water.
5. Chewing gum, plasticine or wax can only be removed with something cold. Freeze a few ice cubes and lay them on top of the dirt. Do not rush to rub or remove - the stain should harden under the influence of cold, only after that it can be scraped off with a knife. If a trace remains, gently wipe it with an acetone-based polish remover.

So, the best fight against stains is protection and regular cleaning. Cover the carpet with dirt-repellent, and then the floor covering will remain clean for a long time, and all stains can be removed without effort.

Video: your old carpet will “shine” like a new one!