More on how to clean carpets. Cleaning carpets will be an important part of your house cleaning business. There are many different kinds of carpets and rugs. Here are tips for this specialized knowledge.
Your clients walk on them every day. Sometimes they vacuum them. Rarely do they clean them.
Carpets seem to be that indestructible floor surface that everybody seems to love for their durability. For a busy family, vacuuming a few times a week seems like a lot of work.
If your client calls you in with a deeper, more difficult carpet cleaning dilemma, follow this step-by-step process for how to clean carpets.
How to Clean Carpets Step by Step
1. Identify the type of carpet. Before you can even begin to clean acarpet, it’s important to know what type of carpet you’re dealing with. Wool carpet can’t be steamed, and most carpets can’t be bleached. Berber requires a much different approach than shag, so take that into consideration when cleaning your carpet to make sure that you’re using the right cleaning process. If not, you risk irreparable damage to thecarpet.
2. Absorb the stain quickly. Carpet stains that are left to sit often continue to rear their ugly head for weeks after you’ve first cleaned them. To absorb a wet stain quickly, gently blot it with a clean towel. It’s important not to rub a stain as it will likely cause it to spread further into yourcarpet. Plus, it weakens the fibers of your carpet, making it look worn.
Absorb the stain into a clean cloth or paper towel by applying pressure. After you’ve done this several times by hand, it’s a good idea to find something heavy to place on a clean cloth on the stain. Leave this for a few hours and it will absorb moisture from further down in the carpet and padding.
3. Use this home made carpet cleaning solution. If the carpet is still discolored from the stain after the previous step, rub a mixture of dish soap and hot water into the area, working in a circular motion from the outside of the stain inwards. A paste made of equal parts lemon juice and salt is also effective on mold and mildew stains, and is much preferred to using hydrogen peroxide or non-chlorine bleach in your carpet. Simply apply the paste and rub in a gentle, circular motion. Remove the paste with a wet-vac or brush.
A spray solution of water and vinegar is a great stain-remover and works quickly to lift dried stains. And yes, white wine will neutralize a red wine spill, so pour it over the stain and work quickly to absorb all of the liquid. Mild cleaning agents are the best choice, both for your client’s health and for the durability of the carpet. Whatever method you choose, remember to soak up any moisture with a clean cloth and blot until dry.
4. Take big action. Most of the time you won’t have the luxury of cleaning a fresh, wet spill or stain. If you’re struggling with a rogue stain, then it might be necessary to use a carpet steamer. You can usually rent these from your local grocery or hardware store for the day. They use water and few chemical and they’re able to penetrate deep into your carpet, providing a much more thorough clean.
How to Clean Carpets — Summary
Carpet stains should be dealt with quickly and in full force to reduce long-term damage. Remember that any residual cleaner left on carpets will specifically attract dirt to that area, and can cause environmentally sensitive people serious health issues. So it is crucial to remove as much of the cleaning agents you use as possible with hot water or your carpetsteamer.
