Keeping your carpet clean

Jul 20, 2007

PROPER care of your floor prevents damage and increases its lifespan. One of the ways to keep the floor intact is to protect it with a carpet. But these harbour dirt. The following are essential tips on carpet cleaning:

By Oyet Okwera

PROPER care of your floor prevents damage and increases its lifespan. One of the ways to keep the floor intact is to protect it with a carpet. But these harbour dirt. The following are essential tips on carpet cleaning:

-Vacuum the carpet regularly and do not use liquid shampoos to clean them.

Have you ever washed your hair and forgot to rinse out the shampoo? The same thing will happen to your carpet. The shampoo can not be completely rinsed out, leaving a sticky residue which acts like a big magnet to pull more dirt into it.

-But if you have already used the shampoo, you can use a shampoo machine to get it out. Mix one cup of vinegar per two-and-a-half gallons of water and clean. Then use warm water to rinse the carpet. The hot water reactivates the shampoo already in the carpet, providing the needed cleansing action.

-Stains in carpets can be a hassle to remove. Never rub a stain because it breaks down the fibres and spreads the stain. Remove most food stains with shaving cream. Spray on and resist the temptation to rub it in and then let it set for 15 minutes. Rinse with a vinegar and water solution.

-Brake cleaner also does a good quick job of removing most food stains. Dab a little on a clean container and gently blot the stain. Rinse with soap and water. Do not pour brake cleaner directly into the carpet because it could dissolve the adhesives that hold the carpet together.

-Oil, grease and ink are stubborn stains to remove. However, products like DeSolvit WD 40 or Orange Clean can remove them.

-Stuck chewing gum can be removed by freezing it with ice cubes.

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