Clever carpet cleaning tips and tricks from the professionals

Keeping your carpets clean and well-maintained is essential for creating a fresh, inviting and healthy home environment. Not only do clean carpets enhance the overall appearance of your living spaces, but they also contribute to better indoor air quality by reducing allergens, dust and other pollutants that can accumulate in the fibres.

While regular vacuuming and spot cleaning can help maintain the appearance of your carpets, there are a variety of professional tips and tricks that can take your carpet care routine to the next level. From deep cleaning techniques to preventative measures, these expert strategies can help you achieve a level of cleanliness that goes beyond surface-level maintenance. Here are a few to bear in mind when it comes to caring for the carpets in your home.

Treat Spills and Stains Promptly

Spills and stains are inevitable, especially in high-traffic areas like living rooms or in homes with children and pets. However, addressing these spillages promptly is crucial to prevent them from setting and becoming more difficult to remove. 

For fresh spills, start by blotting the area with a clean, absorbent cloth or kitchen towel – avoid rubbing, as this can spread the stain and work it deeper into the carpet. Once you’ve blotted up as much as possible, use a carpet-safe spot cleaner or a mixture of warm water and a mild detergent to treat the affected area. Gently work the solution into the carpet using a soft-bristled brush, working from the outside of the stain inward to prevent it from spreading.

For set-in stains, you may need to use a more robust cleaning solution or even enlist the help of professional carpet cleaning services. Different types of stains require different treatments, so it’s important to identify the nature of the stain before attempting to clean it. For example, grease stains may require the use of a solvent-based cleaner, while pet accidents may call for an enzyme-based solution to break down the odour-causing compounds.

Deodorise Your Carpets

Like any area of the home that gets a lot of use, carpets and rugs can absorb odours and smell musty over time. Bicarbonate of soda can double as a deodoriser to neutralise smells that get trapped in the fibres of the carpet, especially pet odours. Sprinkle the bicarbonate of soda over your carpets and leave for several hours or overnight before vacuuming thoroughly to remove any particles. Just make sure the carpet is fully dry before you do so otherwise the soda will absorb liquid and will be harder to remove.

Make Use of Ice

Ice is a surprisingly useful tool for revitalising your carpets. For example, if you’ve had heavy furniture in place for some time, you might notice impressions and dents in the carpet when you come to move it. Place an ice cube on these dents and leave it to melt, then blot the excess water away and once the fibres are almost dry, you can fluff the carpet back into place. Ice can also be used to remove gum from carpets – put the ice cube on the gum for around 30 seconds to freeze it and then scrape the hardened gum off the carpet with a spoon.

Remove Hair and Fibres After Vacuuming

Sometimes, it can feel like no matter how much you vacuum, there are still hairs and fibres that remain trapped in the carpet and won’t lift off. This is a common problem for long-fibre carpets which can be difficult to clean even with the most powerful vacuum. An easy solution is to use a lint roller for these areas after vacuuming to lift up those stubborn hairs that vacuuming has missed. A similar approach to pet hair is to use a standard window squeegee which you can drag over the surface of the carpet to lift up coarse pet hairs from short-hair carpets.

Implement Preventative Measures

While regular cleaning and maintenance are essential for keeping your carpets looking their best, implementing preventative measures can go a long way in minimising the amount of dirt and pollutants that accumulate in the first place. We recommend taking a proactive approach to carpet care by addressing potential sources of grime before they become a problem.

One of the simplest yet most effective preventative measures is placing doormats at all entrances to your home. Encouraging family members and guests to remove their shoes before entering can significantly reduce the amount of dirt, mud, and other outdoor contaminants that get tracked onto your carpets too.

We also recommend scheduling a professional deep clean at least once a year as well. Professional carpet cleaning services have access to high-powered equipment and specialised solutions that can remove embedded dirt and allergens that regular vacuuming and spot cleaning might miss.

For more expert advice on carpet cleaning, or to book our professional cleaning services, contact Apple Clean today.