The U.S. Census Bureau says that the carpet industry accounts for over half of the current U.S. flooring market. Even though there are many materials used for flooring, for some reason it has been, and continues to be the most popular. This may be due to it requiring less upkeep than other surfaces. On hard surfaces, dirt becomes very apparent, and you can feel it on your feet way easier. However, with carpet, it tends to absorb a lot of that. With a little vacuuming, and the occasional blotting, you can generally keep it in pretty good condition. However, sometimes unexpected things happen, and you may consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning service. Before you do that, consider these DIY tricks to keep the carpet cleaner away. Keep in mind, with all of these techniques, you should blot, not scrub.
Carpet Cleaning With Homemade Solutions
Club soda is an old adage, because it works. Add club soda to a cloth, and start blotting the stain. Make sure to not rub. If you see a reduction of the stain, repeat the process. If you don’t, combine half white vinegar, and half water in a spray bottle. Spray it onto the affected area. Wait 10-15 minutes. Use a sponge to absorb the solution and the stain. It may not work the first time, so you may have to do it over until it is gone. After it’s gone, make sure to use fresh, warm water to wash away whatever excess solution remains. To dry the area faster, weigh down some paper towels over the area. The towels will soak up whatever excess dampness remains. This may take about a day to dry.
Cleaning Carpets Of Stuck Gum
Someone was kind enough to drop their gum on the ground, and you step in it. You come home, and track it deep into your fibers. This leaves one of the stickiest messes you can deal with. Not to mention it’s unsanitary. However, don’t fret, the solution lies in the ice in your freezer. Take some cubes, and place them on the gum for a minute or so. Wait until it freezes. Then, take a spoon, lift the gum, and use something to cut the carpet it is stuck to. The less you cut, the less detectable it will be. If you are considering a basement remodel project, see our post on the benefits of remodeling.
Cleaning Carpets of Wax
Candles add a nice ambiance to most situations. However, the downside of candles is that they drip. Some of this wax often lands on the ground, where it solidifies and form fits to the fibers. A simple solution? Re-heat the wax. Take a white cloth, place it over the wax. Then plug in a clothes iron, avoiding the steam setting. Apply heat until the wax melts. After it’s reheated, use a butter knife to scrape away the wax.
Clean Carpets of Grease
Let’s say you’re having a BBQ, and as someone is walking from the kitchen, to the porch, they drop a hot dog. This is an all too common scenario, and one of the more difficult to remove. However, like you’d cut grease from your dishes, you can do the same with carpets. Mix dish soap into a vessel of warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the grease vigorously. After it’s soaked, use a paper towel or white cloth to blot it up. Repeat the steps as necessary until it is gone.
If these techniques don’t get the job done, it may be time to hire a residential carpet cleaning service. They come with the experience and tools to get the job done, without you having to worry about damaging your carpet, or wasting time. However, if the stain is manageable, a little bit of ingenuity goes a long way to save some money.