Carpet cleaning tips for your home

To keep your rugs looking clean and fresh, there are some rug cleaning tips you can use to ensure a long life. Stain cleaners and odor eliminators can have a specific use and, if used incorrectly, can damage your carpets.

One of the best tips for cleaning carpets is to vacuum them thoroughly on a weekly basis. To do this effectively, a high-powered vacuum should be slowly passed over the entire carpet. No matter how strong the suction is provided, going too fast will not pick up all the dirt.

Divide the carpet into quarters, cleaning one section at a time before moving on to the next section, running the vacuum both ways until clean. These carpet cleaning tips will remove virtually all dirt, which can cause damage to carpet fibers.

Stain removal is another situation where good carpet cleaning tips can come in handy. Many people make the mistake of using too much liquid soap-based cleaner on stains. This may actually allow the stain to come back or create new ones. Soap-based cleaners, once dry, will still offer some degree of cleanliness, this time to shoes and other products it comes into contact with.

Some cleaners help stains resurface

The soap will remove the dirt from the shoes and leave it on the carpet. Liquid cleaners, used in excess, will allow the stain to soak into the underside of the rug or even the pad underneath. The stain may appear to be gone, but the liquid will soak up underneath and likely cause the stain to reappear. Carpet cleaning tips are based on cleaning the carpet and not trying to clean it from below.

Liquid spills should be toweled off immediately. Otherwise, they could soak into the underside of the rug. Pet urine can be especially damaging to carpets, as it can cause color dyes to wash out, leaving a discolored stain. A solution of one teaspoon of mild detergent and one teaspoon of white vinegar mixed with a quart of water can help remove the stain.

Most carpet cleaning tips involve not rubbing the stain, which can spread it and make it bigger, rather than erasing the stain. Using a clean towel, place it on the stain and stand on it for a few seconds or place a heavy object on it to soak up as much of the liquid as possible. For specific carpet cleaning tips for a variety of situations, visit http://www.home.howstuffworks.com.