 Everyone knows that they should sweep, mop, and vacuum at least once each week. However, between work, school, errands, and being a parent, there’s often not enough time to keep up with your cleaning needs. After a few weeks of neglect, you notice that your floors are now a few shades darker and that your house is beginning to smell musty. That is because lingering cooking smells and oils, pet dander, and dirt and dust are all working against your home’s level of cleanliness. Vacuuming floors that have gotten too dirty will do next to nothing to restore them. It isn’t until you apply safe cleaning materials that you can hope to pull away odors and stains. It doesn’t take long for carpet floors to start looking gross. While you know you can count on KZOO Carpet Cleaning to renew any carpeting and/or rugs, sometimes you only have one or two problem areas to remove. When it doesn’t make sense to hire a carpet cleaning service, you need some simple home remedies between visits. Diluted White VinegarDistilled white vinegar is a product made from corn that has worked well as a natural green cleaning agent for generations. Vinegar remains effective at breaking down substances, especially when they’re sticky or simply difficult to remove. On its own, it will most likely discolor colored rugs and darker carpets, so it must first be diluted with water. Once you have it diluted to a safe ratio (80 water/20 vinegar is recommended, at least to start). Spray the diluted solution over the spot and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, so it can soak deep into the carpet fibers and begin to loosen the stain. After it has sat for a while, all you must do is dab away at the spot (do not scrub, it will irritate and break down the pile of your carpet, risking it's ability to bounce back and look full like it should) with a white terry cloth over and over until the spot has been removed. You may be tempted to combine this process with other items such as baking soda. Make sure to test it out on an area that isn’t as heavily trafficked to ensure it doesn’t cause discoloration. Baking SodaBaking soda is a natural soapy sodium-based product that has worked well as laundry detergent, surface cleaners, and even pool chemical treatments. Baking soda is a mild enough cleaner that some dentists have even recommended sprinkling some on toothpaste to fight stains and whiten teeth naturally. Most carpet deodorizers have a baking soda base that allows it to absorb smells before getting vacuumed. However, when used with hot water, it also creates an efficient cleaning paste. Just rub some baking soda into a stain with some water or mix a solution up and work the spot. You just need to use a terry towel or even a soft bristled brush (such as a toothbrush) if used very lightly to get into the fibers to remove the stain. Note: baking soda often leaves behind a faint soapy residue that needs to get cleaned out well and flushed with water and followed up gently with a terry cloth to absorb the excess water. AmmoniaAmmonia is a unique cleaning solution that continues getting mass produced for a variety of uses. One reason why more homeowners skip this suggestion is often that of its pungent, off-putting aroma. Ammonia gets made from nitrogen and hydrogen gases, and it can prove hazardous if not used in ventilated areas. However, most people find that correctly diluted with water, it acts as powerfully as bleach without stripping away fiber colors. You’ll probably want to wear gloves for working with ammonia but dilute it as you would with distilled white vinegar above. From there, just work it into the spot, and see if it breaks down. You must follow up with clean water to completely remove the residual chemicals. Otherwise, you will probably bleach out whatever surface. Club SodaClub soda has been the go-to home remedy for clothing stains. However, most people forget that you can use it on the carpet as well and many other surfaces. Best of all, you can purchase a two-liter bottle of store brand club soda very cheaply. Just a couple of bucks will arm you with a natural stain-fighting solution, and you might have some left over for drinks later! Club soda is basicly mineral water that has become carbonated, like a can of cola. The added bubbles can help expose stains and odors to air molecules, helping to break them down further as the water dilutes the mess. Club soda is also an incredibly mild cleaner, meaning you’ll need repeated applications for especially troublesome spots. However, you can’t beat its price or versatility, and it’s always good to keep a bottle on hand. Corn Flour or CornstarchUnfortunately, not all stains are caused by red wine, black coffee, or pet accidents. Sometimes, it’s from an over excited group of eaters dropping hot wings during the big game. Greasy stains become even more challenging to clean because now you have more oils and fats to break down in addition to the sauces and spices. You can’t dive right in, however, because you can easily smear the grease around, making the mess even worse. Before using one of the above cleaning methods, try sprinkling some corn flour or powdered cornstarch over the spot first. What this will do is pull out the excess fats and oils, allowing you to now focus on eliminating the stain out of the carpet. Depending on the food item that fell, you may need to try several different cleaning methods to see results. Always try a small amount of product to see if it will discolor your rugs first before using more. Call in the Experts You can only spot treat for so long before realizing that you need your entire home serviced. Once the stain reaches the padding and subfloor, you’re not going to get it out with soap and water or any other D.I.Y method.
When Do It Yourself measures don’t go far enough, you need an affordable choice in professional carpet cleaning solutions. Call KZOO Carpet Cleaning today for your most stubborn flooring stains. Comments are closed.
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