When it comes to our homes, it’s always a better environment to be in when the level of cleanliness is up to a certain standard. And while most things just become easier to handle around the house when they’re clean, having a clean carpet will not only make you feel better about your home, but it will also make you feel better in your home. Many allergens and other irritants can get easily trapped in your home’s carpet, potentially causing you and your family some health issues. To fight against this, here are three tips for keeping the carpets of your home cleaner and your family healthier.
Secrets of Spot Removal
We’ve all been in situations where something gets dropped, dripped or spilled on the carpet and requires a spot treatment to remove the stain. However, this is often easier said than done. While you can have your carpets professionally restored when damage has been done, there are also things you can do yourself to treat the stains.
According to Popular Mechanics, there are some secret solutions you can use to help remove stains that have formed on your carpet. Some of these stain-fighting agents include club soda, shaving cream, ice, dishwasher detergent, hydrogen peroxide and more. And remember, when treating stains, always blot—rubbing can just exacerbate the problem by pushing the stain further into to carpet fibers.
More Than Vacuuming
To keep your carpets as clean as they can be, you really have to do more than merely vacuuming. While vacuuming is a great way to remove dust and debris from the surface of the carpet, Suzy Strutner, a contributor to the Huffington Post, reminds homeowners that many carpet warranties require you to also get your carpets professionally cleaned at regular intervals. Taking on the cleaning yourself will do more for your carpets than simply vacuuming, but you’re going to want to do a deep, professional clean periodically as well.
Dry vs Wet Cleaning
When getting your carpets cleaned, Better Homes and Gardens shares that there are both wet and dry extractions methods to consider. With water extraction, something like a steam cleaner is used to push a cleaning solution into the carpet fibers and then pull that solution, along with any dirt and filth, back out of the carpet. While this process is effective, it also requires a bit of a time commitment to allow the carpet to dry completely within 24 hours.
Dry extractions usually entail spreading a compound onto the carpet and then using a special cleaning machine to vacuum up the compound and whatever the compound releases from the carpet. Better Homes and Gardens states that while this method can be more effective than even the traditional water method, it often is more expensive and less likely used.
If you feel that you’ve been neglecting the carpets in your home, or your family is commonly sick for unknown reasons, consider using the tips mentioned above to have cleaner carpets throughout your property and a healthier family to go along with them.