The carpet is one of the most important decorative elements of any room, but, unfortunately, sometimes it is also the dirtiest. All the dust, dirt, hair and pet fur end up on the carpet the most, creating terrible stains that are very difficult to remove. Calling specialists or taking the rug to the dry cleaner is extremely expensive. Our article with photos and videos will help you learn how to clean a carpet at home quickly and effectively.
Tip : Before using any method, test the product on a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet.
How to wash a rug at home in the bathroom
Washing a soft coating made of viscose or any other texture is easy only in words, but when you get down to business, everything becomes much more difficult. Without proper knowledge about the material and quality, you can easily and irrevocably ruin a thing, and buying a new rug is much more expensive than using the services of specialists. It is not possible to completely wash a large linen, because you cannot leave it wet for a long time, but small rugs can be completely or partially cleaned in the bathroom.
You can clean the carpet using special products designed for cleaning carpets: powdered and liquid detergents. The most popular of them: Amway, Vanish, Karcher. How to do it:
- We first clean the carpet from dust and dirt using a vacuum cleaner or a regular broom.
- Spray with water completely or partially and rub in the selected product.
- Next, thoroughly rinse off any remaining debris and rinse thoroughly with detergent.
- After washing, hang the rug in a ventilated room or on the balcony, but not in direct sunlight.
Special means
Finding a carpet cleaner in a store today is not a problem. Formulas tested in laboratories are more convenient to use than homemade preparations. In addition, they usually benefit in efficiency.
But here it is necessary to take into account that the composition of such cleaners is more aggressive and can cause allergies, especially if the chemical residues are not thoroughly removed.
Let's name the most popular means:
- Vanish;
- Sama;
- Cinderella;
- Bagi Shtihonit;
- ASTROhim;
- Eco Mist;
- Help;
- Karcher;
- AQUASUN;
- Dr. Beckmann Carpet Stein Remover;
- Dyson Zorb.
The method of application may differ for different chemicals, so it is advisable to carefully study the instructions before use.
How to clean a wool product
Wool carpets are extremely sensitive to cleaning, so it is better to constantly maintain them in good condition or contact a specialist. If you decide to take the initiative into your own hands, wash exclusively with a product that foams up and follow these instructions:
- First, vacuum the carpet, several times if necessary, to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.
- Following the recommendations on the detergent packaging, dilute it with cold water and beat into foam.
- Carefully, without blotting or rubbing, apply foam to the pile with a brush, wait until it dries completely under natural conditions, so as not to deform the fabric.
Caution : Never use bleach or other harsh detergents on wool carpets.
Wet carpet cleaning by hand
Wet hand cleaning is only permissible for carpets that are labeled for this type of care. For example, rugs and carpeting made of synthetic fibers. They tolerate well:
- washing with foam made from laundry soap or Fairy type dishwashing liquid. It is applied to the pile with a sponge, rubbed, the remaining foam is wiped off with a damp cloth, and dried with a hairdryer;
- treatment with Vanish carpet shampoo, the method of use of which is described in detail on the packaging;
- cleaning the carpet with a solution of soda, vinegar in water, sprayed onto the carpet from a spray bottle. Then the pile is rubbed with a sponge, wiped with a damp cloth, dried with paper towels and a hairdryer.
Thus, home conditions are suitable for manual carpet cleaning.
How to clean long pile flooring
Coverings that have a long pile are among the most difficult to clean, because over time, a lot of dust and dirt accumulate in the deep layers of the fabric, and some stains may not even be noticed. Especially if you have a white fluffy carpet that requires careful and constant care in the form of vacuuming and deep cleaning. Detergents or traditional methods, of which there are an incredible variety, will come to the rescue: cleaning with salt, baking soda, vinegar, ammonia, laundry soap and many others. You just need to choose the one that suits you and start cleaning. These methods will also help clean plain carpets.
Important : cleaning must be carried out in a ventilated area and then you need to leave the windows open for a while.
Before you start cleaning, you should definitely vacuum the shaggy carpet, preferably several times, to remove as much dirt and dust as possible. Only after this can you begin one of the types of cleaning.
Traditional methods: soda
Typically used to refresh color and remove unpleasant odors. How to properly clean with baking soda:
- Sprinkle baking soda over the entire area or on dirty areas and leave it on the floor for half an hour.
- Vacuum the carpet thoroughly, several times if necessary, until we have collected all the soda.
Vinegar and soda
Removes light stains and removes unpleasant odors. Cleaning process:
- Prepare a solution in the proportion of 1 tablespoon of vinegar per 1 liter of water.
- We vacuum the carpet and spray it with a spray bottle, which should react with the remaining soda.
- We clean the lint with a brush and wait until the fabric is completely dry.
- Let's vacuum again.
Ammonia
To clean a carpet with this product, you need:
- First, prepare a solution of 5 liters of water, 3 tablespoons of any detergent and 1 tablespoon of ammonia, stir thoroughly.
- Apply the mixture lightly, without blotting too hard, onto the carpet using a soft brush.
- Remove the residue first with a slightly damp and then a dry cloth.
- After cleaning, you need to hang the rug in a well-ventilated area or on the balcony. If there are very wet places, they should be dried with a hairdryer.
This method answers the question of how to clean a carpet without a vacuum cleaner if you need to clean it from stains and remove an unpleasant odor.
Starch
It helps to remove dirt and dust more thoroughly than with regular cleaning. Sprinkle the powder onto the carpet and leave for half an hour, sweep with a brush and vacuum thoroughly. This will not only clean the carpet, but also get rid of the unpleasant odor.
Advice : you should not use starch on dark carpets, as after using it, white marks and streaks may remain on the pile.
Professional approaches to processing carpets and rugs
Housewives who prefer not to use folk remedies for cleaning carpets can resort to one of the following methods:
- Vanish. A suitable option for those who want to wash the carpet quickly and efficiently, with minimal contact with the reagent with their hands. The product is sprayed over the surface of the product, forming a strong foam. After a certain time, it must be removed with a vacuum cleaner.
- Steam cleaner. Can be used to soften stains and facilitate the process of eliminating them. It is highly not recommended to use on wool surfaces. It must be combined with other exposure options.
- Washing systems. Compact and efficient devices do the job better than all other means, while requiring a minimum of physical effort on the part of the owner. True, they are not cheap and take up a lot of storage space.
When using technically advanced devices and specialized drugs, you must carefully read the instructions. Neglecting the recommendations can turn a light carpet into a spotted one, or a soft and fluffy carpet into a dense, shapeless mat.
How to tidy up a white shag carpet
Fluffy white carpets look simply royal, but after a couple of months not a trace of their whiteness may remain. Before cleaning, be sure to vacuum the rug and remove dirt and dust with a broom. Conventional products are of little use, as they remove dirt but do not remove yellowness. The best means to return the snow-white color: soda, vinegar, salt and household chemicals.
Tip : the safest product to clean a light-colored carpet is household chemicals and it is quite easy to use - just follow the instructions on the label.
Clean with food powder
Cleaning a white carpet consists of the following steps:
- Let's prepare the solution: to do this, mix a liter of cool water and a tablespoon of soda, pour it into a spray bottle and shake thoroughly.
- Spray the solution evenly over the entire surface of the carpet and leave for half an hour until it takes effect.
- When the fabric dries, clean the surface with a stiff brush or beat it outside.
Effective remedies: sodium bicarbonate and vinegar
This product not only does an excellent job of cleaning the carpet, but also removes gray plaque. How to clean:
- Make a solution from a liter of water, a teaspoon of vinegar and the same amount of soda (sodium bicarbonate), stir.
- Using a brush, apply to the surface of the carpet.
- Wait for it to dry completely and remove the residue with a brush or vacuum cleaner.
Clean with salt
To clean the carpet using this product, it is recommended to choose “Extra” salt. Finely ground particles will absorb dirt more thoroughly:
- Using a spray bottle, moisten the carpet with clean water.
- Sprinkle generously with salt and leave for 30 minutes.
- We clean with a broom or vacuum cleaner.
Tip : if you are cleaning without a vacuum cleaner, you can sweep away debris with a brush or broom.
Is it possible to clean without a vacuum cleaner?
Vacuum cleaners make cleaning throughout the house much easier. They help to collect dust and small dirt from the surfaces being cleaned with minimal effort. Despite its importance and great help, the unit is not able to cope with many types of dirt or stains. Therefore, regular carpet cleaning without using a vacuum cleaner is necessary.
In addition, cleaning the carpet without a vacuum cleaner may be necessary if a household appliance fails. A vacuum cleaner, like any device, can stop working completely unexpectedly. Repair work or purchasing a new unit takes some time and it is not always possible to do it right away.
Thus, cleaning the carpet without a vacuum cleaner is not only possible, but also necessary.
How to bleach coating at home
Yellowness, which appears over time, is the main problem with white carpets. You can clean and bleach rugs using special chemicals or equally effective folk remedies and recipes:
- One of them is a solution of 2 glasses of warm water, 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 cap of wool care product. Stir thoroughly and spray the solution evenly over the surface of the carpet. Finally, wipe the pile with a soft brush and vinegar water (1 tablespoon of vinegar per liter of water).
- The second option is hydrogen peroxide. It is enough to add 2-3 tablespoons of liquid to 5 liters of water and stir. Using a sponge, apply to the surface of the carpet without blotting and leave to dry.
Before cleaning, be sure to clean the carpet from dust and debris using a vacuum cleaner or broom, and at the end hang it in a well-ventilated room.
Removing difficult stains
It is quite difficult to clean the carpet from traces of berries, alcohol, coffee or blood. The components are quickly absorbed into the structure, which complicates the process.
Ammonia is useful in removing berry stains. The product should be left for a short amount of time and then removed with warm water.
To remove fresh stains, a soap solution is useful.
When cleaning carpet from coffee or alcoholic beverages, a solution of washing powder and warm water is suitable. Contamination is treated with a soft cloth until completely clean. Excess powder can be removed with warm, clean water.
Fresh blood stains can be cleaned with cold water. If the stain is dry, ammonia diluted in two glasses of water will do. The carpet is treated with a soft sponge until the dirt is completely removed.
Hydrogen peroxide will remove excess that has eaten deep into the fibers.
How to dry properly
You cannot leave the carpet wet for a long time, this can lead to its deformation; you need to dry the carpet as soon as possible.
Advice : if you have a long-pile or woolen carpet and it is very wet, it is better to immediately contact a specialist, since it is not possible to dry it at home.
Using dry rags, blot most of the water, place a large amount of fabric underneath and quickly dry with a hairdryer. You can also hang the carpet on the balcony, but under no circumstances in direct sunlight. You should not do this if the carpet is very wet, as it may stretch.
The most important and important condition for the “longevity” of a carpet is proper care. It is necessary to clean with a vacuum cleaner as often as possible, at least once a week. As soon as you notice a stain, you need to immediately remove it using one of the methods described above, air the carpet outside every six months, and clean it with snow in winter. Such simple steps can preserve the beauty of your carpet, and it will serve you for as long as possible.
Ammonia
It is necessary to prepare a solution from ammonia: dissolve 2 tablespoons of ammonia in 1 liter of water. Apply to the pile using a sponge or soft brush, using circular movements, gently rubbing. Pollution will disappear before your eyes. After such cleaning, you need to thoroughly rinse off the ammonia (warm water) and ventilate the premises well so that there is no unpleasant odor.
Important! If airing does not help and the smell remains, you should wash the carpet with soap, similar to the method where laundry soap is used.
Snow
This method is specific, since snow cleaning is possible only in winter and at persistent subzero temperatures. True, this is the most inexpensive option. Procedure:
- Take the rug outside into the snow and spread it with the pile down.
- Carefully trample on it, and then beat it off with a stick.
- Then turn over to the other side and repeat the steps.
- Snow that darkens should be swept away and not left on the pile for a long time, especially if it is medium or long.
- As the snow gets dirty, move the carpet over the snow.
The process can be considered complete when the snow remains clean after beating with a stick.
Sauerkraut
One of the most non-standard cleaning methods, but effective. Cleaning algorithm:
- Squeeze the cabbage from the brine.
- Spread it over the surface in a thin layer and leave for a couple of hours.
- Remove the cabbage with a moderately stiff bristle brush.
- Rinse it under running water and place the mushrooms on the carpet.
- The procedure is repeated until the cabbage remains perfectly white.
After such cleaning, the carpet should be thoroughly rinsed and dried in fresh air.