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Carpet Cleaning Tips |
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Since carpets are not stain-proof, we
suggest these following stain removal techniques for
the type of spill and carpet fiber you're
treating, any synthetic yarn (such as nylon and
polyester) can resist stains remarkably. None
of these techniques are guaranteed to work in
all cases. The following definitions apply to
the procedures that follow:
Tar Removal from Carpet
If tar has somehow found its way onto your
carpet, don't panic. There's a simple solution
for cleaning carpet stains caused by tar, and
it only takes minutes. Spray WD-40, the
lubricant with thousands of uses, directly onto
the tar. Leave it for about ten or fifteen
minutes and wipe off with a clean cloth. You
may have to repeat this a couple of times, but
soon your carpet will look the same as it did
before the tar was tracked in.
Hairspray Removal from Carpet
When hairspray spills on the carpet, it's
imperative one acts quickly before the stain
hardens. If you're not fast enough, all is not
lost; it's really not difficult to remove
carpet stains such as this. Ask yourself, what
happens when hair spray builds up in my hair?
You shampoo it, right? The same method will
work here. For cleaning carpet of hardened
hairspray, just blot with a little clarifying
shampoo and water. In just about every case,
this will be enough to do the trick. Just keep
blotting until all of the hairspray and its
stickiness are removed.
Soft Drink Stain Removal from Carpet
Anyone who has ever hosted a party has had to
contend with careless guests. They don't spill
because they're inconsiderate of course,
they're just having such a good time, they're
not paying attention. That can mean only one
thing. Spills on the carpet. If you're finding
yourself having to remove carpet stains caused
by soft drinks, you might be happy to find out
this is an easy spot to remove. The last thing
you want after a party is to spend a lot of
time cleaning carpet stains caused by an
overzealous guest. Pour some vinegar onto
a cloth and blot the stain until it's lifted.
If you can't live with the smell of vinegar,
blot again with a damp sponge.
Grease Stain Removal from Carpet
Try this tip when cleaning carpet stains: Apply
a generous layer of baking soda or cornstarch
to greasy spots and leave overnight. After
vacuuming, the grease should be absorbed. If
there is any residue or discoloration left
behind, blot with vinegar until the stain is
lifted. A dishwashing liquid or detergent
specializing in removing grease will also
remove carpet stains that are greasy. Make a
solution of half detergent and half water and
spray directly onto the stain. Blot until the
stain is removed. Blot again with a damp sponge
to rinse.
Permanent Marker Stain Removal from
Carpet
Cleaning carpet stains left by permanent marker
isn't difficult if you act swiftly before the
stain has a chance to set in. First try
hairspray or rubbing alcohol. Spray directly
onto the stain to saturate and let sit for
thirty to sixty minutes. Blot with a damp
sponge or cloth until the stain is removed. If
this didn't work, you can try a non-acetate
nail polish remover. You may want to test this
in a hidden area first however; to be sure you
won't damage the carpet further.
Nail Polish Stain Removal from
Carpet
Don't cry over spilt nail polish! Manicure
mishaps are easily remedied. To remove carpet
stains caused by nail polish, just use nail
polish remover! Pour onto a cotton ball or
clean cloth and blot until the polish has
disappeared. Blot again with clean water to
remove all residues. Remember, when cleaning
carpet stains, especially those made by nail
polish, it's important to blot. Don't rub or
the nail polish will spread.
Bleach Stain Removal from Carpet
A bleach stain doesn't have to be the end of
your carpet. If it's not a huge spot, you can
get away with repairing the spot and no one
will be the wiser. It's not as simple as
cleaning carpet stains, but it's cheaper than
tossing your rug out to the curb. Cut a swatch
from a hidden area of your carpet or leftover
remnant. Take your swatch to your local craft
store and see if you can find a fabric paint or
dye that will match your carpet. If this isn't
a viable option, a professional who can remove
carpet stains may even be able to recommend a
product to use to get the color back into your
carpet.
Repairing Burned or Melted Carpet
Fibers
Unfortunately you can't employ the same
techniques used for cleaning carpet stains as
you would to repair burns in the carpet. In
fact, one can pretty much consider a burn
permanent damage. Before you toss your carpet
in a dumpster however, you might try one of
these methods to remove carpet stains caused by
burns. The first thing you can try is snipping
the very top fibers of the carpet. If the burn
is too far down in the fibers, you can cut out
the burned spot with an utility Knife and cut
out another piece exactly the same size and
shape from a carpet remnant or hidden area of
the carpet. Paint a little glue on the sides of
the piece of carpet and glue into place.
Hopefully no one will ever notice.
Vomit Stain and Odor Removal from
Carpet
To remove carpet stains and odor such as those
made by vomit, the newest technology uses
peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled
area to remove the stain and deactivate the
odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX
Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then
allow it to penetrate for approximately five
minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth,
blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not
rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting
process until the area is dry. If the stain or
odor persists, repeat the process. You can also
try saturating the area with a 3% hydrogen
peroxide solution. Let it sit for a few
minutes. Then, using a clean white absorbent
cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do
not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting
process until the area is dry. If the stain or
odor persists, repeat the process. Another
option for cleaning carpet stains is baking
soda, which can be used to eliminate surface
(but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the
area with clean water and then sprinkle baking
soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the
soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to
remove the dry material.
Jell-o and other Gelatin Stain Removal from
Carpet
The dyes in Kool-Aid, Gatorade and Jell-o
generally result in a permanent stain. However,
you can still try to remove carpet stains
caused by these products. The newest technology
uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the
soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate
the odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX
Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then
allow it to penetrate for approximately five
minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth,
blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not
rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting
process until the area is dry. If the odor
persists, repeat the process. Another option
for cleaning carpet stains such as these is to
use ordinary household and blot at the stain
using a clean cloth. When cleaning carpet
stains with ammonia, wear a mask or turn you
head so you don't inhale the fumes.
Dry Erase Marker Stain Removal from
Carpet
Sometimes, when we're going through our carpet
cleaning ritual, we come across stains that are
a bit more unusual. Take for instance dry erase
maker stains. While these aren't common, there
are ways to remove carpet stains created by
this product. Hairspray, the old tried and true
remedy for removing ink stains is your best.
Spray an alcohol-based hair spray directly onto
the carpet to saturate, let sit for about
fifteen minutes and blot until the stain is
removed. Don't forget this important tip for
cleaning carpet stains: Always blot a stain,
never rub. Rubbing the stain will only cause it
to spread. It will also wear away the fibers.
In addition to hairspray, alcohol will remove
carpet stains caused by these markers. Apply
the hairspray directly to the carpet and blot.
Blot again with a damp sponge to clean away any
residue left behind.
Repairing Cigarette Burns in Carpet
If you come across a cigarette burn in your
cleaning carpet ritual, you'll need to do some
simple repair work. First snip away the singed
edges with fine manicure scissors or a razor
blade. Use tweezers to pull out the severely
burned fibers and discard. Remove clean carpet
strands from another, hidden area in the room.
Apply glue to the burned area, and press the
clean fibers into the spot. Press the area with
a heavy object for several days before walking
on it.
Milk Stain and Odor Removal from
Carpet
You may have noticed a couple of days after
cleaning a carpet stain such as milk, the spots
come back. This may be due to wicking. Wicking
happens when the carpet becomes saturated and
the liquid pools at the bottom. After a while,
it starts to work its way back up through the
fibers making the stain reappear on your
carpet. It is extremely difficult to remove all
of the liquid from the carpet fibers, carpet
backing and padding underneath, thereby
creating ideal conditions for bacteria and mold
growth (and thus malodors). However, you might
not be ready to replace your carpet just yet,
so here are a few things you can do to
eliminate the carpet odor. When you first begin
to remove carpet stains, blot up as much of the
liquid as possible with an absorbent white
cloth. Place another thick cloth on the carpet
and weigh down with something heavy so all of
the liquid is absorbed. When that's done, go
ahead and sanitize the area. The newest
technology uses peroxide and detergents to
penetrate the soiled area and deactivate the
odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX
Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, which
will penetrate into the carpet. Allow Bio-OX to
penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using
a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area,
pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30
seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the
area is dry. If the stain or odor persists,
repeat the process. You can also use baking
soda to eliminate surface (but not deeply
penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean
water and then sprinkle baking soda over it.
Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and
let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry
material.
Removing Stuck on Carpet Padding
It's tough enough having to remove carpet
stains. It's even worse if one removes carpet
padding only to find part of it is still glued
to your floor. If you are removing old carpet
in your home and find that the under padding is
stuck to the floor underneath, you should be
able to remove it using a commercial glue
remover. Two commercial products that may also
help are called Foam Off, or CitriStrip. You
can also try to soak the residue with hot
water, and scrape it off. A paint removing
product may also help.
Wax Removal from Carpet
The last thing any of us need is wax dripped on
the carpet. Once it hardens, it seems
impossible to remove. All is not lost though.
For cleaning carpet stains made by wax, first
chip off as much of the surface wax as
possible, using a dull knife or paint scraper.
Once that is done, place a cloth or several
layers of paper towels over the wax and apply a
warm iron. Iron the towel for a few minutes and
then lift. The wax should now be on the cloth
instead of the carpet. Remove carpet stains
left behind by blotting with vinegar, or if it
doesn't come up easily, nail polish
remover. |
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