Install and Clean Different Flooring Types
Proper care and cleaning of your carpet will extend its useful life, and keep it looking good for a long time. Here are some tips on how to clean and care for your carpet. Proper care of your floor prevents damage, extends its
*Take your shoes off at the door. Why, you ask? Just like sandpaper does to wood, the grit and sand on our shoes will grind away at your carpet's fibers. Plus, there's oil and other nasty stuff on your shoes- when you think about what our shoes walk through every day, it's a wonder how our carpets ever stay clean. Try wearing slippers inside, or socks- going barefoot too often will cause your carpet to become stained from the natural oils in your feet.
*Regularly vacuum your carpet, and never clean it with a liquid carpet shampoo. Just like with human hair, some carpet shampoos don't fully rinse out and they leave behind a sticky residue. The residue pulls the dirt off of the bottom of your shoes- your shoes will be spotless, but your carpet will be filthy.
*Use a dry carpet soap instead; these can often be found at stores that sell vacuum cleaners and other appliances. To remove residue, rent a shampooer that cleans with water, and mix a cup of vinegar with 2.5 gallons of water. Clean the carpet according to the shampooer instructions, and go back over it a second time with just water. The vinegar will extract the shampoo residue, leaving the carpet clean.
*We all know that carpet stains can be hard to remove. If your carpet gets a new stain, don't rub it- blot it gently. Rubbing the carpet breaks the fibers and causes the stains to spread. Most food-based stains can be removed with shaving cream- simply spray it on and let it soak in for fifteen minutes, rinsing with a solution of vinegar and water.
*Red dye stains can be removed with a 70/30 solution of peroxide and water, and club soda can remove stains caused by red wine. Some food stains can be removed with brake cleaner- just dab some on a clean rag and blot the stain. Rinse the area with soap and water.
*Pet stains and smells can be treated with enzyme cleaners. Pour enough so that the pad is saturated- when a pet urinates on the carpet, it soaks through to the pad. Let the enzyme cleaner soak for a couple of hours- these cleaners can be bought at marine, RV and pet stores.
*Grease, marker, ink and oil can be almost impossible to remove. Most janitors use something called DeSolvit, but Orange Clean and WD40 work as well. Rubbing alcohol can remove ink stains as well. Blot it on with a clean cloth, let it soak for thirty minutes and blot gently, then rinse with soap and water. In most cases, Magic Marker stains are permanent.