Don’t despair about a new stain on the carpet, or the unsightly mark of unknown origins on your favourite rug; here are our top tips for carpet cleaning.
The best way to avoid carpet stains is to get to them as soon as possible; whether it’s chilli sauce or a glass of red, here’s what you can do straight away:
- DON’T scrub at the stain; this will spread it out, ingrain it into the surface, and could damage the rug or carpet.
- DO dab and blot to get rid of the excess.
- DO work from the outside of the stain inwards, to prevent smearing.
- DON’T use too much water; this will soak your carpet, and any underlay, which will make the stain worse.
- DO use minimal water, or just cleaning agent (such as a carpet spray, a paste made of bicarbonate of soda and water, or a mixture of water and white vinegar).
- DO test any products on a small, discreet area first, to make sure it doesn’t bleach the carpet or rug.
- DO allow cleaning solution to soak in before blotting, then repeat as necessary.
- DO use a small amount of water to wash away residues of cleaning solution when you have successfully removed the stain.
- DON’T tackle mud straight away – this is the exception to the “Act Now” rule: be patient and wait for the mud to dry, before brushing off the excess, vacuuming and cleaning with a solution of water and vinegar, or bicarbonate of soda.
If you discover dried-in stains, the first thing that you want to do is wet them a little (not too much). Dampen the surface of the stain with a little water, then follow the rules: blot, dab and repeat before applying a small amount of detergent, or cleaning solution.
We know that carpet cleaning can be a headache, and that it is not always possible to eradicate stains, particularly dried ones. If you want to give your carpets and rugs a new lease of life and make them stain-free, consider consulting a reliable, local professional carpet cleaner, who knows all of the tricks of the trade and possesses the skills and technology to make your carpets look as good as new.