How to clean the carpet at home

Carpet is a universal and now popular floor covering. Like carpets, it consists of small villi, in which dust accumulates rapidly, particles of dirt, and such pollution and darkening are especially strong on the light carpet. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to clean the fleecy flooring at home, using special substances from the department of household chemicals or available tools.

Kinds of carpet

During the choice of flooring, it is necessary to take into account what methods it can be cleaned, how long it will take, forces, maybe it will require an appeal to professionals. To avoid future troubles, it is better to “arm yourself” with knowledge. So, the carpet is of the following types, depending on the base material:

1. Natural - such a coating can not be cleaned with water and detergents, because it dries very long (and the longer the villi, the process is still delayed), and as a result, mold can occur.
2. From natural wool pile - to clean it, just enough to walk thoroughly on the carpet with a vacuum cleaner.
3. Synthetic - picky during cleaning, it can be washed and vacuumed.
4. With a glue base, it also does not tolerate water, otherwise the silicate glue at the base of the coating may deform or peel off, and the carpet will be irrevocably damaged.

In addition to the composition of the base, you should also take into account the material of which the pile itself consists (it can be natural, artificial, or combine both options), and its type - weaving method, length, degree of uniformity.

Tools and ways to clean the carpet

Not all chemicals that are on the shelves of specialty stores and declare on their labels that are ideal for cleaning carpets are really worth buying. Here, again, it all depends on the base material and the type of pile.Therefore, be sure to find out what is right for you, so as not to spoil the coating.

So, for different types of carpet, the following tools may be suitable:

• vinegar;
• soda;
• ordinary detergents, liquid or powdered;
• Carpet cleaning products.

For applying the compositions you will need a soft brush, preferably a natural, or a sponge - they will not only help to evenly distribute detergents, but also lift the pile.

There are dry and wet methods for cleaning the flooring. Dry is a mandatory weekly procedure that is carried out with a vacuum cleaner. Thus you do not allow a large number of particles of dirt to accumulate between the fibers, respectively, then it will be easier to carry out a “general” cleaning. Of course, to vacuum the carpet, it is better to use a spiral nozzle-brush in the shape of the letter S, because it is more effective for fleecy coatings. In addition, before starting dry cleaning it is recommended to distribute a special powder or dry foam, to withstand a certain amount of time, then remove it with a vacuum cleaner.

In the wet cleaning method, either a washing vacuum cleaner, a sponge or a brush and a special shampoo are used. The vacuum cleaner will greatly facilitate the work, but for his lack of it can be cleaned "in the old way." This method is not recommended to be used more than once a month, otherwise the coating may lose its color and rub off. The shampoo is distributed over the carpet with a vacuum cleaner or sponge, and after a few minutes, when the coating is completely soaked, and the dirt goes away, it is removed in the same way. For the most persistent stains, it is necessary to use a stain remover, but this tool should be handled very carefully, especially if it has a bleaching effect (for light-colored coatings). Also with the help of stain remover or other concentrated detergents, you can remove stains on the carpet, but try to accurately observe the proportions, otherwise the product may discolor, and in the presence of liquor in the composition - burn out.

Wet cleaning is not suitable for all types of coatings, so if your carpet is made from natural materials or glue-based, try to avoid contact with liquids.

As a compromise, an intermediate option between dry and wet cleaning, you can use dry foam. The instructions for the tool describes the method of its preparation and time. To do this, dilute some of the powder in water (it should be a bit) to form a cool foam. After that, it is applied with a sponge or brush on the surface of the product, but it does not need to be rubbed. After a few minutes, the foam begins to react to the pollution and eliminate them, and as this process progresses, it collapses. And when it settles completely - you can thoroughly vacuum the carpet in the usual way and remove the tool.

This method is universal, but, just as with wet cleaning, you should not resort to it more than once a month. The ideal frequency of “general” carpet cleaning is once in a couple of months, subject to regular vacuuming.

Folk carpet cleaning methods

Time is bearing fruit, and over the decades of the existence of this type of floor covering, the mistress has invented her own ways of dealing with its pollution. Only one main condition remains - all stains need to be removed on time,as soon as they appeared. Do not let them get old, fit into the carpet, and then be able to effectively, without damage, clean it.

1. In case of contact with ink, nail polish or not very resistant paint, moisten the sponge with acetic acid, 50% solution. Gently rub the stain, and after it disappears, blot the place that has been treated and the area next to it with a clean, damp sponge or cloth.
2. Blood can be easily removed using a solution of soap with the addition of lye (no more than 10% of the total amount of the composition). After treatment, rinse the area with 10% acetic solution, and at the end - with warm water.
3. Spots from drinks (tea, coffee, juice, sweet soda) most often appear on the carpet, they can be removed with the help of an alcohol-vinegar solution made from six parts of alcohol and four - vinegar. In the end, the place of the former spot must be treated with clean water.
4. Another means of dealing with stains, especially persistent, that can appear from tar or spilling fluids, which contain acid or lye, is ammonia. In a ratio of 10 to 1, it should be diluted in clean cold water (it is better to immediately stock up with a gauze bandage, which will slightly overlap the smell), then apply to the contaminated place until the stain disappears and dry.You should not rinse the area where there was a stain with water.
5. Chewing gum, clay or wax can only be removed with something cold. Freeze a few ice cubes and place them on top of the contamination. Do not rush to rub or remove - the stain should harden under the action of cold, only then it can be scraped off with a knife. If a trace remains, gently wipe it off with an acetone-containing varnish remover.

So, the best fight against stains is protection and regular cleaning. Cover the carpet with a dirt-repellent agent, and then the floor will keep its cleanliness for a long time, and all stains can be removed without effort.

Video: your old carpet will "shine" like new!