9 Carpet Cleaning Secrets to Make Them Look Brand New

One reason that people love carpeting—besides its warmth and softness—is that it requires less maintenance and upkeep than hard-surface floors. Frequent vacuuming and an occasional deep-clean scrubbing are typically all that’s required to keep carpeting looking new and fresh. However, sooner or later your carpet will become the victim of spills, splashes, messy accidents, and whatever you track in on the bottom of your shoes. Here are 9 of the best tips to keep carpets looking new:

1.       Blot Stains, Don't Rub Them!

2.       Club Soda and Vinegar are Your Friends

3.       Try Shaving Cream

4.       Dish Soap Cuts Grease

5.       Heat Hardened Wax

6.       Hydrogen Peroxide to the Rescue

7.       Comb out Crushed Candy

8.       Clean Pet Accidents Organically

9.       Deep Clean Regularly

Blot Stains, Don't Rub Them!

When a stain or spill first occurs, resist the urge to immediately start scrubbing. That’ll only drive the stain down into the carpet. Instead, gently dab stains with a cleaning solution and a clean cloth, paper towel, or sponge. Always blot from the outer edge of the stain inward toward the center; blotting outward can spread the stain further across the carpet.

Club Soda and Vinegar are Your Friends

You can use club soda to remove beer and wine stains from carpeting—if you use it correctly. First, pour club soda onto a clean cloth and blot the stain. If the stain appears lighter, repeat with more club soda. If that doesn't work, mix a one-to-one ratio of white vinegar and water, and pour it into a handheld spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the stained area, then wait 10 or 15 minutes for it to soak in. Next, press a clean, dry sponge down onto the saturated area to soak up the cleaning solution and the diluted stain, too. Repeat this process, if necessary, until the entire stain is gone.

Try Shaving Cream

The best carpet cleaner for general stains is ordinary shaving cream. It will remove just about every type of stain. Apply the shaving cream directly to the stain and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Once the shaving cream has set, blot it up with a dry white cloth. Finish by spraying the area with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water, and then wipe away the solution with a cloth.

Dish Soap Cuts Grease

Greasy spills are some of the most difficult to remove from carpeting, but again, the secret is to use the proper product and technique. Place a few drops of grease cutting dish soap, such as Dawn, into a cup of warm water. Gently mix the solution to dissolve the soap. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and soak the greasy stain. Then blot it up with a white cloth or paper towels. Depending on the size and age of the stain, you may need to repeat this treatment multiple times.

Heat Hardened Wax

Burning candles in the house can result in wax dripping onto the carpet, where it quickly hardens and becomes embedded in the fibers. We recommend heating the wax back to a semi-liquid state in order to remove it. Place a white cloth over a warm clothes iron (use the “no steam” setting). Then set the iron on top of the wax until it melts. Scrape off the softened wax with a butter knife or a comb.

Hydrogen Peroxide to the Rescue

Few carpet stains are as obvious or unsightly as blood. But suffering a paper cut on your finger and getting a few drops on the carpet doesn't mean your shag is permanently stained. First, loosen up dried blood with water mixed with a mild detergent. Then use a butter knife to scrape off as much blood from the fibers as possible. To remove any residual blood, apply full-strength hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain. The solution will immediately start to foam and fizz when it contacts the blood so don't be surprised. Wait a few minutes, then blot up the hydrogen peroxide and remaining blood with a white cotton cloth or paper towels.

Comb out Crushed Candy

If you have kids in the house, sooner or later you’ll end with candy stuck in the carpet. First, try to scrape out the candy with a butter knife. Then, soak the area with a sponge dipped in water mixed with mild soap. Once the candy is removed, dry the spot by blotting it with a cotton cloth or paper towels.

Clean Pet Accidents Organically

If you live with pets, it’s only a matter of time before one of them has an accident on the carpet. Using an organic cleaner, spray the cleaner directly on the stain. You’ll have to do some scrubbing to remove all the staining and odor. Then wipe up the cleaner with a white cloth or paper towels.

Deep Clean Regularly

The very best way to keep carpeting looking fresh and new is to deep clean it every six months using a steam cleaner. Steam cleaning involves using a cleaning solution under pressure injected deep into the carpet via water-jet nozzles. And the machine will also extract the cleaning solution along with the dirt and debris in the carpet. The hot water and steam penetrate the carpet fibers all the way down to the backing to loosen any embedded soil, dust, or greasy deposits. Your carpet will be cleaner than it has ever been!