All About Carpet Cleaning

Cleaning your carpet starts with keeping off as much dirt as possible. Proper care of your carpet prevents damage, extends its life and keeps it looking new for years. If you enjoy going barefoot, or even if you don’t, kick your shoes off at the door. Sand and dirt found on the bottom of your shoes grind away at the fibers in your carpet, leading to an early death. Small wonder why your carpet stubbornly refuses to come clean for all the grimy deposits tracked in on your shoes. However do wear slippers or socks inside. The oil from the bottom of your feet also dirties the carpet.

Regular thorough vacuuming removes soil from among fibers of carpets, thus keeping their good appearance and extending their life. Most carpeted areas need vacuuming once a week, with several slow strokes. Little-used areas need may not need as frequent vacuuming, while areas with lots of active or messy use may need quick daily vacuuming.

When you clean your carpets do not use liquid carpet shampoos to clean them. Ever wash your hair and forget to rinse out all the shampoo? The same thing happens to your carpet. The shampoo can’t be completely rinsed out, leaving a sticky residue. That residue acts like a big magnet pulling the dirt from the bottom of your shoes. Now you have clean shoes and even dirtier carpets. Use dry carpet cleaners instead. Stores selling vacuum cleaners carry dry carpet cleaners.

Getting out old shampoo becomes the trick. Rent a shampoo machine that cleans with water. Mix 1 cup of vinegar for every 2 ½ gallons of water and then proceed with cleaning according to the directions. Go back over the carpet with warm water only. The vinegar pulls out the old shampoo, cleaning the carpet as well. It may take a time or two, but your carpets will be soft and free from grime. The hot water reactivates the shampoo already in the carpet, providing the needed cleansing action.