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Carpet Cleaning Tips

When Lady Macbeth cries, “Out, out damn spot” in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, she is reacting in part to guilt for her participation in another’s character’s murder in this famous play. Today, Lady Macbeth might be muttering while sleepwalking after a day of carpet cleaning. What are some tips on prolonging the life of your carpet and removing stains?

First, make sure that you vacuum regularly. This will help prevent the buildup of dirt and natural oils that will ultimately hold in more dirt. When you decide that it is time to clean your carpet, do not overuse detergents. If there is too much detergent left in your carpet after cleaning, the detergent left will actually help clog new dirt into your carpet. Finally, do not overuse water. Today’s detergents are designed to be used with less water than you might think. Excess water can increase the chances of mold growing, of your carpet shrinking, or of your carpet adhesive failing.

For almost any type of stain, blot up as much of the problem as you can as soon as you can with a white towel or white paper towel. If there is any solid matter, or “goop,” left, remove as much of it as possible using a spoon or a spatula. Using a knife for this will make your job harder as the knife may actually damage your carpet.

When attempting to remove stains from carpets, keep the following tips in mind:

• If you are using a detergent to help remove a stain, make sure that the detergent does not contain lanolin or bleach.
• If you are using water to help remove blood, make sure that the water is cold. Warm water will actually help to set the blood into your carpet.
• A wet/dry vacuum can be really helpful in removing the original spill and removing fluids that you have used to clean the stain.
• Always try to follow your carpet manufacturer’s suggestions if you can when cleaning up stains.