How to clean carpet at home

The carpet hides all the unevenness of the floor relief, provides thermal and sound insulation. This is especially convenient when a problem arises to quickly, beautifully and inexpensively update the interior. Such a floor covering is laid directly on the screed, glued to the floor or pressed along the perimeter with plinths.

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Features of carpet
Carpet cleaning
Cleaning features depending on the material
Carpet care rules
Video: how to quickly and easily clean carpet

Features of carpet

In fact, this is an analogue of a carpet with a dense base and fixed pile. The difference is that the carpet is produced in rolls without a dense, factory-made edge. If the carpet can be rolled up and taken to the dry cleaner, then with the carpet, the situation is more complicated. The latter has to be cleaned and updated on the spot.

carpet in the interior — Over time, this coating is exposed to serious pollution, which you have to deal with on your own.

It is even more difficult to ventilate the carpet if moisture gets inside the base. A wet base is difficult to dry from the inside. Over time, it can become moldy or get a musty smell. In order for the carpet to serve you for a long time, it is enough to know some rules in its operation and cleaning it from dirt.

carpet photo — Carpet belongs to unpretentious materials, but dust and dirt accumulated in it can significantly spoil its appearance.

Carpet cleaning

The assortment is huge, you can choose any option for an exquisite interior for a demanding client. Carpets can be divided into two groups according to the coating material: from natural and synthetic fibers.

carpet in the living room — To extend the life of this floor covering, you need to know about some of the secrets of cleaning from various types of dirt.

The natural compositions of the carpet surface include linen, cotton and wool. Such carpet is considered environmentally friendly and safe for sensitive people prone to allergies. If you rarely clean it, mites or moths can start in the base made of natural materials. Cleansing is carried out only in a dry way using special means.

natural carpet — This type of carpet dries for a very long time, which in turn can lead to the appearance of mold and mildew. - a source:

Synthetic carpet fibers are durable and abrasion resistant. They are cheaper than a carpet surface made of natural threads, they can withstand cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner and with liquid stain removers.

So that cleaning the carpet at home does not cause difficulties, you need to understand what manufacturing technique the product has. This can be obtained from a sales consultant before purchasing or read the instructions from the manufacturer. Each type has a number of benefits and care tips.

carpet cleaning — Synthetic carpet can be cleaned by almost any means and method. When exposed to water, it does not change its shape and structure.

For example, needlepunched carpets often have an adhesive base.This surface must not be washed, cleaned with alcohol-based products that can destroy, soften, deform or dissolve the base.

In flocked carpet production (Flotex), the vinyl base is so tightly connected to the pile at the molecular level that moisture does not penetrate into the material. This surface is ideal for rooms with high humidity, such as a bathroom or sauna.

flocked carpet for home — It can be cleaned with any vacuum cleaner. If the pile length is not large.

Cleaning carpet using foam

How do I clean carpet without water? Foam. This method is not yet considered wet, but it refreshes the color of the carpet surface, removes small stains and dirt. A special foam designed for cleaning carpets is whipped until a dense and fluffy mass is formed. In the composition of such a mixture, as a rule, there are alkalis, alcohol, fine abrasive particles, an aromatic composition and other components.

foam carpet cleaning — Wet cleaning is perhaps the most common method of cleaning floor coverings among housewives, as it is the most effective and at the same time does not take too much time.

Pre-vacuum the floor, remove dust and debris from the surface of the pile. The prepared foam is applied in a thick layer, and especially dirty areas are rubbed with a soft brush. After the time kept according to the instructions, the foam with the softened dirt is collected with a vacuum cleaner or a clean cloth. This method is good in that the base of the carpet does not get wet, and the pile moistened with foam dries out rather quickly.

how to clean carpet with foam — Carpet should be washed as carefully as possible so as not to damage its pile.

The method is not suitable for carpets with long pile, as it is difficult to remove excess foam and dirt from such a surface. Ideally, the foam will clean carpets with medium or short threads.

Vacuuming carpet

A vacuum cleaner is a versatile home method for cleaning dirt and dust for all types of carpets. For a more thorough cleaning, there are special attachments and a turbo brush with a rotating shaft for collecting long hair and animal hair.

cleaning carpet with a vacuum cleaner — Some people prefer to clean the carpet with a washing vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning can be combined with special dry powders that absorb moisture, dirt and refresh the color of the carpet. The cleaning mixture, according to the instructions, is gently rubbed into the pile of the carpet and left for the specified time. Then the powder, which has absorbed all the dirt, is cleaned out with a vacuum cleaner. This is a great way to save time. You can do other things while the dry mixture is working, absorbs all the dirt and cleans even the light floor.

dry cleaning of carpet — Dry-cleaning of carpet made of artificial material is allowed to be carried out no more than once a month.

Cleaning carpets with folk remedies

Folk remedies for removing dirt and stains have always been held in high esteem. Even our grandmothers, who did not know either a vacuum cleaner or "Vanish", knew how to clean any stain. And although the industry has endowed the housewives with a large selection of cleaning agents, there are times when there is literally nothing at hand except the bottles from the first-aid kit and the kitchen cabinet.

carpet cleaning at home — If you do not want to wash the carpet in the usual ways, using various chemicals, then you can resort to folk methods of how to clean the carpet.

People-tested carpet cleaning products come to the rescue:

The vinegar-soda solution removes greasy areas and unclogs heavily soiled areas. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda and washing powder. Add 100 ml hot water and 4 tsp. vinegar. An important condition is that these manipulations should be carried out directly next to the cleaning surface in order to have time to apply the seething mass to the pollution. Rub the carpet with a rag or brush, let it dry, and remove the remaining soda with a vacuum cleaner. The vinegar-soda solution does not penetrate into the base of the carpet product and does not spoil it.In such a simple, but effective way, our grandmothers got rid of stains.
Cleaning carpet at home with baking soda has worked well. This is an effective, cheap and environmentally friendly way to remove odors and stains from your carpet. Sprinkle baking soda on the soiled area, rub lightly with your hand, a dry cloth or a delicate brush. The powder can be left on the carpet overnight or for a couple of hours. Then vacuum the surface thoroughly. Do not forget that a large amount of soda remaining on the carpet can enter the human respiratory system and cause an allergic reaction.
The ammonia disinfects the surface, removes grease, removes stains and refreshes the pile. For cleaning, mix 10 ml of ammonia and 0.5 l of water in a spray bottle. Spray the product on the surface, scrub especially dirty areas with a brush and leave to dry completely. Then go around with a vacuum cleaner.
Lemon juice has long been considered a natural stain remover. To remove the stain, apply a freshly squeezed drop of juice to the nap. After 2 hours, it remains to wash the area of the carpet with water.
All-purpose laundry soap has also proven itself to be an excellent stain remover. Grate the shavings on a fine grater, dissolve in warm water and spray the mixture from a spray bottle. Leave the surface to dry and vacuum up any soap residue. This method is especially good for removing fresh stains.

Professional carpet cleaning

Professional carpet cleaning removes dust and dirt even at the base of the pile, which neither a brush, nor a vacuum cleaner, nor other “home” methods can handle. Experts select a cleaning method depending on the length and structure of the pile, use detergents that are as gentle as possible on the basis of your carpet. We use products that are environmentally friendly for children and animals, without foreign odors and fragrances. The method is not budgetary, especially if you have a sick home. But everything will be done at a convenient time for you, quickly, efficiently and accurately.

dry cleaning carpets photos — After such cleaning, there is no need to worry that the carpet will remain damp and smell unpleasant.

Cleaning features depending on the material

Carpet, before getting into your home or office, should be examined for composition and care recommendations.

Natural carpet

Natural fiber is pleasant to the touch, warms up perfectly, creates a feeling of comfort and warmth. Often the manufacturer dilutes woolen, cotton or silk bristles with synthetic threads for higher wear resistance. In most cases, a woven base is used to create a natural canvas. Such material is afraid of moisture and dampness. And if the base of the carpet is made of cotton thread, then when it dries, it can deform and shrink.

matting carpet — The frequency of cleaning the coating and its intensity will largely depend on what type of material is used.

You will have to limit yourself to dry cleaning. Even a washing vacuum cleaner is contraindicated. Camel, goat or sheep's wool quickly damp at high humidity, there is a danger of mold or mildew. Treat the surface twice a year with anti-moth preparations, clean with dry powder monthly, and try not to experiment with folk remedies.

vacuum the carpet — In order for the carpet to serve for a long time and can be used throughout the entire period declared by the manufacturer, it is important to properly care for it.

Synthetic carpet

Synthetic carpet is the most unpretentious, abrasion resistant. It has excellent contact with any cleaning agent, if it does not contradict the instructions from the manufacturer. It is suitable for hallway and kitchen, children's room and balcony. These are coatings made of polyester, polypropylene, polyamide. Here you can work with washing vacuum cleaners, with household chemicals without chlorine and with antistatic agents.

Carpet with long and thick pile

Carpet with thick and long pile looks spectacular and attracts the attention of others. It is pleasant to the touch and retains heat well. However, its long pile literally attracts dust and small debris, absorbs moisture and foreign odors.

long pile carpet — It has to be cleaned more often than other types of carpets.

An ordinary vacuum cleaner with a special turbo brush is best suited. The rotating spiral winds the debris around itself without tearing out the carpet pile. The steam generator does an excellent job as well, provided that there is a built-in drying function. Or you need to additionally dry the base of the carpet with a hairdryer.

long-pile carpet care — It is recommended to contact a professional dry cleaner no more than 1-2 times a year.

Rubber carpet base

The glued base of the rubber carpet is destroyed by moisture. Dry cleaning is required with a vacuum cleaner or a special powder that does not moisten or deform the substrate. The foam has proven itself well, removing dirt from the pile, without accumulating moisture in the lower layers.

rubber-based carpet — If you have a cleaning vacuum cleaner, try not to use it more than once a month.

Carpet care rules

Once you have purchased a carpet, carefully read all the recommendations for use and maintenance:

if there are no visible spots and greasy areas, do not use wet cleaning for the first six months;
if you have pets, purchase a turbo brush;
carry out weekly dry cleaning of the carpet surface with a vacuum cleaner from dust and small debris
If you spill liquid on the carpet, try to dry the base as quickly as possible, at least with a hairdryer.

Carpet maintenance is easy if you follow simple rules. Choose a floor covering not only for aesthetic reasons, but also in terms of care recommendations.