Stubborn stains are one of the most typical reason why people change their carpets after concise use. If you want to prolong the life of your carpetings you need to take adequate care of them and deal with spills and other mishaps the best possible way. When you know the proper method to treat any stain you can prevent it from becoming permanent spot and ruin your carpet.
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The Most Common Mistakes When Treating a Stain on the Carpet
The best way to prolong your carpet’s life if to try to prevent any stains in the first place. Put doormats at every door to trap soil and prevent it from getting into the rug’s fibres. You can also put a smaller area rug under the dining or coffee table – this way if someone spills their drink or drops food, it will get onto the rug instead of onto the carpet. Nevertheless, accidents do happen and it is good to avoid these three common mistakes when dealing with them:
- Don’t over-soak the stained spot with cleaning solutions and water. This way the stain will grow, and you will end with a larger area to clean.
- Never rub the spots on your carpet. It may seem the best thing to do, but vigorous scrubbing will drive the dirt deeper into the texture and make it more difficult to clean.
- Don’t apply liquids on a dried stain, especially if it is mud. When dealing with dry spots, scrape off excess grime with a spoon or a dull knife, then run a vacuum to extract as much of the dirt as possible.
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The Best Way to Remove Stains from Your Carpet
Some types of spills and stains take more time to clean than others. Most foods like chocolate, grease, and fruit juices are challenging to remove, as well as some beverages like tea, coffee and wine. However, if you act fast and follow the steps suggested below, you will be able to remove even the most stubborn stains on your carpet.
- Lift as much of the excess dirt from the rug as soon as you can. If the stain is thick, like sauce, or cream, scrape carefully everything that’s on the surface using a dull knife or a spoon. If the spot has already dried, vacuum it to extract as much of the grime as possible. If the place is wet, take a clean, dry cloth and gently blot the carpet to absorb the liquid.
- After the first step, dip a clean rag in cold water, squeeze it, so it not dripping wet and blot the area to loosen the dirt. Never use hot water, because high temperatures can make some stains more challenging to remove. For example – dairy products and eggs coagulate when they get treated with high temperatures.
- Choose suitable stain removal product for your carpet. In some circumstances, you can use ordinary liquid dish soap. Test the product on a small inconspicuous place of the rug first. If there is no discolouration or other unwanted reaction, prepare a thick foam by whisking together the cleaner and a half cup of lukewarm water. Apply the lather to the spot and leave it for a few minutes to allow the cleaning agent do its job.
- Dip a clean rag in cold water and start blotting the spot to lift the cleaning product and rinse the stain. Repeat several times until there is no more foam, or dirt onto the carpet.
- Take a dry cloth and blot the area to absorb the water. After this allow the rug to dry entirely before stepping on it. Don’t use a hair dryer to make speed up this process, as directed heat can damage some types of carpet fibres.
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Follow the steps above to remove any stain from your rugs and carpets. Take in mind that if the spot is too old, or if you don’t have the right product to remove it, it is best to call professional carpet cleaning company.