Carpets are still one of the more popular flooring types for specific rooms. Unfortunately, some of these rooms are high-traffic areas, leading to grime, spillages and much being transferred through. Notoriously difficult to clean, carpets need special treatments to ensure the marks don’t stain or cause damage to the flooring.
So, how can you effectively clean spots from your carpet? Let our expert at Factory Direct Flooring explain.
What To Know About Cleaning Carpets
Unlike other flooring, such as real wood or laminate, carpets are complex in terms of their makeup. Considerations need to be made, such as knowing the fabric, how it’s coloured and the pile to ensure you don’t permanently damage the fabric and make the spot worse.
Pile length
Carpet pile refers to the height of the fibres. A high pile will be shaggier and denser, whereas a short pile will be firmer but easier to maintain. When considering which to buy, it’s worth knowing where this will be placed in your property to ensure it’s easier to clean or how it will fair from wear and tear.
When cleaning short pile carpets, you’ll be able to be a bit more vigorous as they are hardier. High-pile carpets need a little more care to ensure you maintain the bounce of the fibres and don’t flatten them.
Fabric Type
Just like cleaning your clothes, knowing the fabric type of your carpets is key. Whether it’s wool, synthetic, acrylic or nylon, the detergents you use and the methods for cleaning are key to effective stain removal. Here’s a breakdown of some common carpet types:
Wool - Mild detergents and water for spot stain removal.
Nylon & Acrylic - Diluted cleaning solution
Synthetic - Vinegar and water solution for spot cleaning
Test for Colour Fastness
For dyed or coloured carpets, it’s important to spot test to ensure the colours don’t come off with the cleaning solution you use, or, if they do, this is known before tackling large areas of a carpet. Spot test in a less obvious place where it won’t be seen to test out the cleaning solution you need to remove a stain.
Remove Excess Dirt
The first and most important task before putting any detergent or cleaning solution on the carpet is to remove any excess dirt through hoovering, brushing and sweeping the whole carpet, not just the area which needs cleaning.
If your carpet is in a high-traffic area, dust and grit can collect in the carpet fibres, so making sure the carpet is as clean as possible before tackling the spot stain will ensure no further much is incorporated or worsened by the application of detergent.
Choose Appropriate Carpet Stain Remover
When looking for the right carpet stain remover, there are a few things to consider. Common cleaning products, including bleach, vinegar, and baking soda, may not be suitable for all carpets, so knowing which is best, is vital for the preservation and quality of your carpet.
Use Carpet Shampoo
There are many brands of carpet shampoo, so whichever one you choose is sure to provide the right cleaning solution with instructions to mix with the right quantities. Many carpet shampoos can be used with home cleaners or by hand with a clean cloth, with the added benefit that they not only tackle the stain but are designed to remove odours.
Home Made Products
Some homemade detergents are effective at removing spot stains from carpets, whether mixing vinegar with water, bicarbonate of soda or diluted dish soap. As we’ve discussed, knowing the type of carpet you have will determine which products will be most gentle on your floors.
Salt For Muddy Stains
The trick to cleaning mud from carpets is to let it dry, but there is a trick with using salt to dry out mud, which makes it easier to vacuum and clear the excess. With muddy stains, it is also important not to rub this further into the pile but rather dab this with a cloth and draw the stain out of the fibres, rather than scrub deeper into the carpet.
Soda Water
You can use soda water to clean carpet stains as it’s effective at lifting stains and is suitable for most carpets. To use soda water, pour it directly onto the stain and dab with a clean cloth. The carbonation is effective at lifting dirt which work with slight acidity to break down stains.
Vinegar x Liquid Detergent
Vinegar can’t be used on all carpet types, so it’s necessary to check this solution on a test patch before using it on the main area, especially if in full view. To test, mix a solution of 1 part warm water to 2 parts vinegar add a dash of dish soap and apply to an area for testing.
If no discolouration occurs, it is likely safe to use on other stains, so using a clean cloth, dab this onto the stain to lift out and keep dabbing until the stain is removed. Be careful not to over-saturate with water as this will seep into the underlay and will be difficult to dry out, causing an even bigger stain.
Dry Properly to Prevent Water Damage
It is one thing to clean the stain, but it’s also essential to ensure the flooring is completely dry before receiving footfall. As well as the actual carpet, it’s important to consider the underlay and prevent this from getting sodden from too much cleaning. There are a few methods to try and dry out your carpet as quickly as possible;
Clean Towels: Following the cleaning of a spot stain, drying with a towel by compressing over the spot and allowing the moisture to draw up is an ideal way to take away the excess moisture from the initial cleaning. You can also weigh down the towel with evenly distributed heavy items to soak it up over a few hours or overnight if it’s particularly damp.
Dehumidifier:
If you’ve covered a few spots or large areas of your flooring, then it may be worthwhile getting a dehumidifier to take away the moisture that is released after towel drying and to prevent excess moisture from lingering in unventilated rooms.
Fans or Open Windows
Similarly to dehumidifiers, opening windows or investing in fans to help speed up the drying process may be worthwhile for those more significant stains where large areas of carpet have been cleaned.
Alternative Flooring to Carpet for Easy Cleaning
Keeping carpets looking fresh and odourless comes from constant upkeep, regular cleaning and ensuring that outdoor shoes are left at the door to prevent fibres from becoming caked in dirt.
If you don’t feel this is for you and your home, then it’s worth considering easily maintained flooring, which doesn’t require such intricate cleaning and drying.
Laminate: Durable, easily installed and easy to upkeep, laminate is the perfect low-maintenance flooring for busy homes. Perfect for hallways, kitchens and living rooms, its range of colours, thicknesses and styles make this one of the most popular flooring options to replace carpets.
Vinyl: Whether it’s LVT or roll vinyl, you have hard-wearing flooring that can add something extra to your home. Known for its waterproof properties, vinyl is perfect for bathrooms, high-moisture areas, and living spaces such as bedrooms, landings and playrooms.
Real Wood Flooring: Stunningly beautiful, real wood flooring hits all the spots when it comes to flooring that is easy to install, maintain and clean. The footfall it absorbs gives it more character as the years go by and a simple sweep and polish keep this type of flooring in perfect condition.