How to get rid of chewing gum, wax, or blood stains with vinegar, baking soda, and more.
Basic rules for carpet care
Removing stubborn stains is much more difficult than regularly cleaning the carpet. These tips will help keep it in top condition.
- Vacuum the carpet once or twice a week to remove dust. This is especially true for recently purchased products – at first, extra villi will come out. This happens with almost any carpet, so don’t be alarmed.
- Vacuum the carpet from the wrong side once a month.
- Dry clean only if possible. Carpets are generally afraid of moisture and take a long time to dry. If you leave a damp carpet on the floor, an unpleasant odor or even mold can develop. In addition, moisture damages parquet and laminate.
- If the carpet becomes very wet during cleaning, move all the furniture off it, blot it well with paper or cotton towels and let it dry in a draft. In the cold season, the coating can be dried with a hair dryer, but do not bring the device too close to the surface.
- Try to remove the stain from the carpet as soon as it appears. The main rule: do not rub dirt into the pile. If something mushy has fallen on the carpet, scrape it off with a spoon. If liquid is spilled, blot with a tissue or towel. Remove dirt from the edges to the center. Starch or talc scattered around the perimeter of the stain will prevent it from spreading.
- Do not use washing powder to clean the carpet. Residue on the pile will attract new dirt.
- If you bought carpet cleaner from a store, test it on an inconspicuous area, such as under a chair. It may not be suitable for your carpet.
- Bright viscose or woolen carpets are best sent to dry cleaning immediately, without trying to clean them at home.
How to clean carpet
Use the tools that you probably have at home, and also take a closer look at the store compositions.
How to clean carpet with vinegar
Vinegar can be used to clean fresh stains or get rid of gray deposits.
You will need two tablespoons of 9% vinegar and 1 liter of warm water. Take a soft brush and, wetting it in the resulting solution, walk along the surface of the carpet. After cleaning, be sure to dry the coating and ventilate the room.
How to clean carpet with baking soda
Mix soda with fine salt and scatter on the surface of the carpet. Spread the mixture evenly with a brush. Wait 10-20 minutes. Soak a broom in warm water, sweep everything from the carpet. Leave the coating to dry. Vacuum to remove baking soda and salt residue.
This mixture absorbs odors well and cleans dirt. It is suitable for cleaning light surfaces. White spots may remain on dark carpets.
You can also mix two tablespoons of soda with a liter of water, pour the resulting mixture into a spray bottle and spray evenly on the carpet. Then you need to wait until the coating dries and vacuum thoroughly.
How to clean the carpet with a special detergent
Be sure to try store-bought carpet shampoo on an inconspicuous area as some dyes can be unstable and stain the finish. Work in a well ventilated area.
Vacuum first. Then dilute the detergent with water in the proportion indicated on the package, beat until foam forms. Sponge evenly spread the foam on the carpet, being careful not to wet it too much. Rub the surface in a circular motion. Wait until the coating is completely dry. Vacuum.
Shampoo will help to refresh the carpet, remove stubborn dirt and unpleasant odors.
How to clean carpet with snow
If you are willing to wait until winter, you can clean the carpet with snow. This method refreshes the coating.
Roll up the carpet, take it outside and lay it face down on the snow. Walk on top. The longer the pile, the larger the snowdrift needed. You can pour snow on the cover and beat with a broom or stick. After that, transfer the carpet to a clean area and do the same. Turn it upside down, pour snow on it again and walk with a broom or brush. Then hang it on the crossbar and beat it well.
Shake off the remaining snow thoroughly so that the carpet does not get wet. Take it home, blot wet spots, if any, with a towel and leave to dry completely.
How to get rid of different types of stains
If the carpet has tough stains, such as wax or pet urine, a standard cleaning will not be enough. Here’s what will help to cope with such stains.
How to clean carpet from pet urine
A urine stain, like any other, is best cleaned immediately. Blot the liquid with a tissue. Instead of a napkin, you can use cat litter. When it absorbs moisture and odor, gently remove the granules from the carpet with a vacuum cleaner.
Then dilute one part vinegar in three parts water. Moisten the stain, leave to dry completely. Then sprinkle the stain with baking soda and leave it for a couple of hours. Rinse the area with clean water and dry. Clean off whatever is left with a brush or vacuum cleaner. The procedure can be repeated 2-3 times.
How to clean gum from carpet
The best way to get rid of gum is to freeze it. Take a few ice cubes, put them in a resealable bag, and run them over the elastic to freeze it. After that, scrape it off the pile with a thin metal spatula or a dull butter knife. If there are sticky pieces left on the carpet, freeze them again.
When all the chewing gum is removed, wipe the carpet with soapy water, adding a little vinegar to it. Leave until completely dry.
How to clean carpet from blood
Fresh blood washes well with very cold water. Fill a spray bottle with ice-cold liquid, spray on the stain. Blot it with a napkin or towel from the edges to the center. If necessary, repeat the procedure. Dry and vacuum the carpet. If the stain doesn’t go away after drying, try using a stronger cleaner like baking soda or vinegar.
A still fresh stain can be removed with ordinary salt. Mix it with a little cold water to make a thick paste. Apply the mass to the contamination in a thick layer, leave for 5 minutes and rub with a sponge or cloth. Then vacuum the carpet.
Comb the dried stain with a dry stiff brush. Vacuum to remove what has been scraped off. Mix two cups of ice water with a tablespoon of dish soap. Take a soft cloth, soak it in the solution and wipe the stain. Blot the liquid with a tissue. If the stain persists, rub with soapy water again. Dry the carpet.
If the soap solution does not help, take a glass of cold water, add two tablespoons of ammonia and apply to the stain. Leave on for 5 minutes, then blot with a tissue. Remove the remaining ammonia solution from the carpet with a clean, damp cloth. Blot again with a tissue. You can put a clean towel on the stain, press down on it with a load and leave for 10 minutes. So the liquid will be absorbed faster. Dry the carpet with a fan to speed up drying.
Ammonia should not be used on wool carpets. When working with ammonia, be careful not to inhale it. Is it dangerous.
How to clean carpet from wax
Wait for the wax to harden and scrape it off with a spoon or a dull butter knife. If there are small crumbs, collect them with a vacuum cleaner. Take the iron, plug it into the outlet, setting the lowest settings. Turn off the steam function. Lay a clean paper towel or piece of paper over the remaining wax stain. Top iron with a warm iron. Change the cloth to a clean one and iron again. Repeat the process until all the wax is melted and absorbed into the paper. Wait until the carpet has completely cooled down.
If the result is still not perfect, rub the coating with an alcohol solution. Just be sure to test it on an inconspicuous area. Alcohol can leave discolored spots. Blot moisture with a clean tissue. Leave the carpet to dry completely.