New Year, Clean Carpet

2/6/2019 (Permalink)

It’s that time of year again when the chances of getting your carpets dirty beyond the normal day-to-day pet accidents or kid spills increases with visiting guests and holiday parties. Here are some tips to clean up those unfortunate accidents before they take the joy right out of your seasonal, festive spirits.

When it comes to wine, consider serving white. Red can be particularly disastrous to light-colored carpeting. General rules for removing stains from rugs are to blot and not rub, which can ground the stain into the fibers. Here are some common household items and how they can help:

• Hydrogen peroxide can remove blood.
• Shaving cream is a great general stain remover.
• Ice can remove gum.
• Club soda is effective on beer and wine stains.
• Grease-cutting liquid dish soap removes grease stains.
• To remove wax from candles, place a white towel over and then heat with iron. Scrape the softened wax off with a butter knife.
• For candy stains, remove with a knife then follow with a sponge dipped in water and mild soap.

Pet Stains

Pets are most definitely not a carpet’s best friend. Cleaning urine up before it dries will help immensely. Once it is dry, the odor will set into the carpet fibers. Place a few layers of paper towels, or a towel, on the spot to absorb the urine. Stand on the towels to remove as much as possible. Follow with a solution of 2 cups of white vinegar, 2 cups of warm water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Place the mixture into a clean spray bottle and spritz over the area. Let dry for about 10 minutes, then blot with a soft, dry cloth. For heavier stains, cover the stain with baking soda. Then pour a mixture of even parts vinegar and water on the spot, letting it dry for a few minutes and then blotting it up with a cloth.

The acid in pet vomit can stain quickly, so again, wipe up ASAP. Remove as much as possible with paper towels or a hand towel then blot with a clean, dry towel. Prepare a solution of 2 cups of warm water, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap and ½ cup vinegar. Dip a sponge or cloth into the mixture and apply to the soiled area. You may need to reapply and blot the solution a few times, depending on the severity of the stain. Once it is gone, remove the cleaner by placing a cloth dipped in clean water over the area and blot dry.

Odors

While family members enjoy deep, plush carpets underfoot, one of the drawbacks is they are absorbent and like to hold onto smells from spills, pet accidents and smoking. If your carpet smells bad, you may not have to replace it. A bit of extra attention and some common products most people have stocked in their households may take the offending odors away.

That wonderful cure-all that comes in the little gold box works wonders all over the house and is particularly useful for removing odors from your carpet. If a stain has left a lingering odor, try sprinkling baking soda on it and letting it sit. After a few hours, vacuum it, and hopefully, the offending aroma, right out of your rug.

Ramp up the purifying power of baking soda with some Borax, mixing them in equal amounts.

Smoke Odors

Pervasive smoking odors can be broken down by setting out separate bowls filled with ammonia and white vinegar. Do not mix the liquids because it will create a harmful gas. Allow the bowls to sit out in the room for 24 hours, then sprinkle the carpet with baking soda and let it sit overnight before vacuuming it up. Follow with a steam cleaner, filled with distilled white vinegar. Vinegar is an acidic cleaner that kills bacteria and removes tar and resin odors.

These do-it-yourself tips for removing stains from your carpets may help with some of the bothersome stains and odors that come from everyday wear-and-tear. But if they don’t, or when you are ready to get your carpets off to a fresh start for the new year, give us a call at (812) 242-9611.We can provide you with a professional, deep clean!

SERVPRO of Vigo County is a locally owned and operated leader in restoration and cleaning needs. We serve local communities in the Terre Haute, Indiana, geographical location, so we are part of this community too. We have the training, equipment and expertise to handle your restoration and cleaning needs following disasters and accidents that occur in your home and business. We offer 24-hour emergency service and are faster to any disaster. Call us when you need help in getting your property back in order and looking its best. We are part of SERVPRO, a trusted leader in the restoration industry with over 1,700 franchises in the United States and Canada.