Do It Yourself Carpet Cleaning Tips and Methods

When it comes to do it yourself cleaning, there are several options that you can choose from. If it just a small area that you are trying to clean up, then there are several home remedies that you can use. If you are looking at cleaning the entire carpet, then you can either purchase a carpet cleaner or you can rent a unit from most any local home improvement store. Below we will discuss the various options that are available for cleaning your carpets yourself.

It is recommended that you “deep clean” your carpet at least once a year, and maybe more if you have children or pets that contribute to the mess in the carpet. If you are going to clean the carpets yourself there are two options for you to choose from, purchasing a machine or renting a machine. These machines are typically carpet shampooers, and are rather simple to use. You will want to pre-treat any stains that may be present in your carpet before proceeding with using the machine. This will offer better ending results. The downside of shampooing the carpet is that not all of the shampoo can be removed from the carpet, and although the carpet will look fresh and clean for a little while, the dirt and debris will soon return.

Tips & Methods

If you are “spot” cleaning your carpet, then there are several steps you can take to remove the stains and keep your carpet looking fresh and clean.

1. Prevention is the first step to take when it comes to cleaning your carpets. Regular vacuuming is the best way to keep the most common stains, good old-fashioned dirt, from setting up in the carpet. Remove the dirt before it comes in contact with any moisture. Moisture will act like a glue that will set the stain into the carpet.
2. Clean up the spill as soon as it happens. Use a rag to sop up as much of the liquid as you can, and then depending on the stain, use the appropriate cleaner for that type of spill. Try a little bit of warm water first, being sure to absorb as much of the liquid into the rag as possible.
3. If your pet has had an accident on the carpet, ammonia is your best bet to remove the urine and the smell that is left behind. It is simple to use, add a couple of teaspoons of ammonia in a spray bottle and add warm water. Spray the spot thoroughly and blot with a rag to remove the moisture from the spot. Repeat as necessary to remove all of the urine.
4. If the stain has had a chance to dry into the carpet, scrape up as much as you can before applying any cleaning solution to the spot. In a spray bottle add ½ teaspoon of dish washing liquid to one quart of hot water, and spray the area. Then remove the liquid by blotting it up with a rag.
5. If you have a mold and mildew smell in the carpet, use 3 parts Hydrogen Peroxide to 5 parts water. Sniff out the source of the smell and spray thoroughly with this mixture. This will neutralize the odor and leave your carpet smelling clean again.

Do it yourself carpet cleaning can save you time and money. Hiring professionals can get rather expensive. And if you leave the stains unattended, you could end up having to replace the carpet, which again can be rather expensive. So use these simple home remedies to help extend the life of your carpet.