Have you ever wondered why airports have carpeted flooring? One reason is that they can help relax stressed travelers. The more relaxed travelers are, the more likely they are to shop at airport stores.
Other researchers found similar results. For example, a 2016 study examined the effects of walking on carpeted and hardwood floors. The findings were that the former induced less stress than the latter.
Unfortunately, filthy carpets can also become a source of stress and health woes.
That’s a good enough reason to ensure you perform regular home carpet cleaning.
Act Fast
One of the most critical steps to carpet cleaning is doing it as soon as you spill something on them. It’s even more crucial if it’s something like red wine, grape juice, or tomato sauce.
Such liquids contain natural pigments like anthocyanins, betalains, and carotenoids. These compounds give them their color and are also why some use them as colorants for dying textiles.
For the same reason, it’s best to immediately clean food and liquid spills on carpets. Otherwise, they can cause stubborn, even permanent stains on your textile floor coverings.
So, as soon you spill food or drinks on your carpets, blot them using non-dyed paper towels or plain white cloths. Avoid colored fabrics, as their dye may run and transfer to your carpets.
Once you’ve removed as much of the spill as possible, spray it with a bit of clean water. Then, blot it again with a fresh cloth or paper towel.
Repeat the steps until no trace of the spill remains. You can then give the treated area a final blot. That can help dry the spot as much as and as quickly as possible.
Remove Items Sitting on the Carpets
Objects like toys, books, purses, and bean bags can hinder your carpet cleaning task. Moreover, they can put you at risk of a slip, trip, and fall accident. Mind that falls alone account for more than 8 million emergency room visits in the U.S. annually.
So, take the time to declutter and move items before giving your carpets a thorough vacuum job. For instance, you can transfer lightweight objects to another corner of the room. You can also take them to another room (or put them in their proper places).
Be mindful of the weight of the items you’re moving or removing, though. If it’s too heavy (i.e., a couch or a sofa), have someone assist you in carrying and relocating it. Otherwise, you might harm yourself, as heavy lifting is a primary cause of injury.
Vacuum to Extract Debris and Dirt
Carpets may be relaxing, but they’re a catch-all for dirt, dust, and debris. They can also harbor shed skin cells, hair, and dust mites.
So, it’s no wonder that a single square inch of carpet can house hundreds of thousands of germs. That can make them several thousand times filthier than toilet seats!
Your carpets may also dirty up faster if you have animal companions.
After all, pets shed fur, and their saliva contains bacteria. For instance, canine saliva harbors at least 20 species of bacteria. That’s on top of the millions of fecal coliform bacteria in their urine and feces.
That’s why regular cleaning with a vacuum is a must for your carpets. Use a vacuum with strong suction power to ensure a better cleaning job.
However, just as vital is to take your time vacuuming each area of your carpets. Even more so when you clean high-traffic areas like the entryway and the living room.
The key is to run the vacuum carpet cleaner over the same spot a few times. It’s also best you spend a minute or two on each square foot area to extract more contaminants.
Spot-Treat Stubborn Stains
After thoroughly vacuuming your carpets, see if any stubborn stains remain. These may take the form of pet accidents or food and drink spills you might have missed.
If you see any, you can treat it with a commercial carpet cleaning solution. However, make sure you go for one recommended by your carpet manufacturer.
You can also go with a product approved by Woolsafe or the Carpet and Rug Insitute. They provide an effective and safe way to clean, spot-treat, and maintain your carpets.
You can also make a cleaning solution using one teaspoon of liquid dish soap mixed with half a pint of warm water. Then, transfer the concoction to a spray bottle for a more controlled application.
Once your cleaning solution is ready, spray or blot a small amount onto the soiled area. Start from the outer edge and then work inward to prevent the stain from running and spreading. Also, ensure you alternate between the cleaner and a dry, non-dyed cloth or towel.
Another tip is to add a teaspoon of white vinegar to your detergent concoction. It can help spot-treat more difficult-to-remove stains and even kill some mold species. That’s all thanks to its acetic acid content.
Use Baking Soda as a Freshener
If you bake at home, you likely have baking soda in your pantry to help make baked goodies rise. However, this fine white powder, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is not only a riser but also a cleaner. That’s because it’s alkaline; thus, it can break down organic materials, such as dirt, grease, and oil.
Moreover, baking soda’s powdered form makes it a gentle abrasive. So, it can help scrub away and lift filth from carpet fibers without damaging them.
In addition, sodium bicarbonate has odor-neutralizing properties. Hence, it can be helpful in carpet cleaning as it can help remove unwanted smells.
Best of all, baking soda is safe for humans and animal companions alike. After all, it’s a staple ingredient in baked products and can even serve as a meat tenderizer.
With that said, consider using baking soda to freshen up your carpets’ looks and smell. You can try either or both of the methods below.
Sprinkle All Over the Carpets
First, sprinkle liberal amounts of the powder straight onto your carpets. Then, spray it with a small amount of clean water; you only want to dampen it, not make it sopping wet.
Next, let the sodium bicarbonate sit on your carpets undisturbed until it dries. Once it does, you can use your vacuum cleaner to extract the powder, including dirt and foul smells.
Make and Apply Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda paste can also help treat stains and pet accidents. To make it, combine two parts of the powder with one part of plain warm water. Then, give it a good stir until you achieve a thick, gooey consistency.
You can then apply the paste to the soiled areas of your carpet. Leave it undisturbed for at least 15 minutes, but you can also let it sit longer on more stubborn stains. After that, scoop up the dried powder and vacuum the area to remove any remnants.
Hire Professional Carpet Cleaning Services
Keep your carpets in top condition by pairing DIY vacuuming with professional cleaning. Such a combination can help maintain the looks of your carpets and extend their lifespan.
Besides, you may only need to hire pro cleaners once or twice a year, as long as you vacuum your carpets regularly. If not, or you’re too busy, you might want to bump that up every quarter. Likewise, increase the frequency if you have pets or someone in your household smokes.
Convenience aside, a good enough reason to hire pros is to ensure a thorough carpet cleaning job. For example, they use a deep steam cleaning system utilizing hot water extraction. It involves injecting hot water deep into the carpet and its fibers.
The hot water penetrating carpet fibers then breaks down and dissolves embedded filth. Moreover, it knocks loose compounds that can cause stubborn stains on your carpets.
Afterward, the steam cleaning machine sucks up the water, dust, dirt, and debris. The result is immaculate, stain-free, fresh-smelling carpets.
Furthermore, residential and commercial carpet cleaning services use eco-friendly solutions. In addition, a reliable carpet cleaning company will properly dispose of used water.
To top it all off, you can hire pros to clean all the surfaces of your home, carpeted or not. For example, aside from covered floors, you can have them clean carpeted walls and stairs. You can even request them to clean grout, glass, stone, tile, and hardwood surfaces.
Invest in Professional Carpet Cleaning Today
There you have it: All the essential facts you need to know about residential carpet cleaning. Now you know you can use kitchen staples like vinegar or baking soda to clean your carpets. You’ve also learned how crucial regular vacuuming and professional carpet cleaning services are.
So, why not let the HammondKnoll team come to your and your carpets’ rescue? Rest assured that we will care for every inch of your home’s surfaces.
Call us now to schedule your service or to learn more about our tailored cleaning solutions!
