Carpet cleaning is a trick trade. Professionals are trained to get out tough spots and to deep clean carpets to remove dirt and allergens from soiled carpet. It is important in dealing with carpet that you always start by preventing dirt and stains from building up in the first place. Regular carpet cleaning and paying close attention to stains when they first show up will prevent the need for the carpet cleaners to visit more than once a year. Taking appropriate care of your carpet will leave it stain and order free in between carpet cleanings.
Here is a list of helpful tips that will leave your carpet fresh and soil free in between carpet cleaner visits.
1) Maintain your clean carpet by having house guests remove shoes before entering into your living space. Carpet is easily soiled from outside dirt and soil. Use rugs at all entrances into your home and offer a sitting space for shoe removal. These signs will lead guests to automatically remove shoes before assuming that shoes are welcome on your carpet.
2) When you do encounter a stain do not rub it. This will only smear the stain and cause it to work into your carpet. The best option for most stains is to blot the stain until it is thoroughly removed from the carpet. If you rub the stain in it will go deep into the carpet and you will ruin the pile on your carpet fibers.
3) If you improperly remove a stain it will resurface at a later date out of the padding or depths if the carpet fibers. Make sure that you remove the stain thoroughly even going as far as placing a clean cloth on the stain over night and cover it with a heavy object that will press the cloth into the carpet fibers removing the stain.
4) Whatever you do, do not use an iron or blow drier to dry your carpet. These mechanisms will only set the stain in. Instead use a fan to circulate the air around the treated spot. This will help dry the area thoroughly.
5) Have your carpet steam cleaned by a professional carpet cleaning system once a year. This will help prevent buildups of spots and stains.
6) If you encounter mold or mildew in your carpet look for a non-chlorine bleach (non-colored carpet only) product or a combination of lemon juice and salt. Cover the area with the mixture and gently massage into the carpet. Then blot the area with a clean towel until the mold and mildew are gone. You can then circulate the air with a small fan to create an environment to dry the carpet.
7) Water is the best product to use to clean up most spills. Of course stronger substances such as urine will need to be treated with baking soda to remove the smell.
8) Vacuum is something that needs to be done more than once a week to keep carpets clean and fresh. Make sure you keep the canister empty and go over the carpet several times to allow all the debris to be picked up. A quick job is not something that should be done if you want to keep your carpet looking like it did when it was put in.
9) Mild cleaning products are always the best. I prefer just water but if sometimes products must be used for stains that are more stubborn. Read the directions on all products and use them accordingly.
Obviously the best tip is prevention. Prevent the stain from ever setting in or happening in the first place. You will save yourself a lot of time and money. Regular maintenance helps prevent deep soiling. Carpet cleaning professionals will tell you that eighty percent of debris brought into your home is dry. With this said regular vacuuming should minimize damage to your carpet.