10 Ways to Clean Carpets Like a Professional

Everybody wants their carpets to sparkle all the time; but accidents happen. Kids, wine, gravy, pet feces – they won’t let us be great in peace. So what you do when you are faced with a stain that threatens to break up your loving relationship and send you off to a carpet-less eternity?

If you can’t find the time to call over a professional, or you are on a somewhat tight budget and can’t afford professional carpet cleaning services – here are a few tips to help you get through cleaning your carpet just right;

• Have the Demeanor of a Professional Carpet Cleaner

Resist the urge to attack any stain like a maniac. Admittedly, it is quite tempting to bust out a sponge and go at scrubbing the carpet like your life depends on it, but this would do neither you, nor the carpet any good.

Take a few minutes and strategize by asking yourself a few necessary questions – for instance, what is the carpet made of and what cleaning solution is most likely to eliminate the stain without any casualty?

• Clean Any Carpet Stains Immediately

It is important to not be overly hasty in addressing stains. However, it is also important to allow them set as they might prove tough to deal with later. The ultimate rule to having stain free carpets is to get to any of the stains before they get the chance to set. You snooze, you lose. So, think – but do it fast.

• Blot Carpet Stains – Don’t Rub, Don’t Scrub

The key to having smear free carpets is blotting. Blotting means you only put a small amount of pressure on the stain to soak it up. Thus, before cleaning, absorb as much of the stain as you can with a cloth or sponge. This would help with pulling out as much of the liquid or gunk and reduce the spread of the stain during stain removal. On the other hand, rubbing and scrubbing causes the stain particles to get grounded into the carpet fibers, damaging them severely.

• Less Cleaning Product Equals Better Results

Cleaning products are great but have the potential to become counter-productive themselves. If you use as little of the cleaning product as possible, it reduces both the drying time as well as the risk of staining the carpet even further.

• Let It Dry

If the carpet stays damp after cleaning, it poses the risk of growing mold. Thus, it is important to blot thoroughly with a towel after cleaning or use a fan or hair dryer to gently hasten the process.

• Treat Your Carpet Like Royalty All Year Round

Cleaning your own carpet is quite a chore but necessary. But even frequent carpet cleaning can prove a little damaging to the carpet fibers – exposure to cleaning products weaken them slowly gradually hasten the deterioration process of the carpet. Consider keeping the accidents to a minimum; this is almost impossible if you have children or pets, but adults are a less challenging crowd to deal with.

• Steam Clean on Occasion

There are an abundance of DIY steam cleaning machines available for both rent and purchase and if your household is prone to spills or accidents that are difficult to tackle, then it may be worthwhile to purchase one and steam clean the carpet from time to time.

• Ditch The Chemicals & Use Household Products

You have probably never heard this saying before, because I just made it up, but – club soda and ice cubes are a party host’s best friend.

Club soda works magic against beer and wine stains. This is only true if you use it correctly. Simply blot the stained area with the soda on the cloth, and repeat the process until stain is eradicated.
Ice cubes are great for chewing gum that gets tacked onto the carpet. Simply grab a couple of ice cubes and freeze dry the cubes for about 30 seconds. When it is frozen solid, use a spoon and lift up the glob, cutting the strands of the carpet as close to the gum as possible. If you are careful enough, there will be minimal noticeable harm done.

• Try Beauty Products

Perhaps not all beauty products will do the same but ordinary shaving cream is proven to remove just about any type of stain.

When the ‘accident’ happens, apply the shaving cream directly to the stain and allow it set for about 30 minutes. Once this time elapses, blot the set cream away with a dry white cloth, then finish up by spraying the area with one part vinegar mixed with one part water and then wipe away the solution with the same white cloth.

• Splurge A little

Let’s be honest with each other, even professionals know that if it’s not done by a professional, it can only seem like it is. Eventually, the lack of a professional touch will become obvious and you may even begin to slip up.

It may not be necessary to get professional carpet cleaning any more than once or twice a year, but professional carpet cleaning services will give your carpet a good treat and only leave you with the minor task of maintenance – and compared to changing the carpet every few years, you will find that this is worth the occasional splurge.