It may be surprising, but the first tip I’m giving you is related to the carpet itself. Buy a high-quality carpet. It will surely be expensive, but you will see the price is worth paying. Cheap things often turn out to be more costly than expensive ones. A high-quality carpet needs less care – less washing and less expenditure on cleaning preparations. The cleaning of the cheap carpet wears it out quickly. In many cases, good expensive carpets detain less dirt than ordinary and cheap ones. Buying a high-quality carpet makes your home a cosy and stylish place and makes the carpet’s cleaning process easier for you.
Use a brush with soft hairs. A brush with stiff hairs can damage the fabric of the carpet. As for using a vacuum cleaner, the carpet should be vacuumed once a week and more often in areas of heavy traffic. Note that frequent vacuuming prolongs the life of the carpet. More than ordinary vacuuming is required for the perfect condition of the carpet. Every few weeks, take a little extra time and clean around radiators and other places that are difficult to reach.
When you treat the carpet with water and some solution, be sure the latter doesn’t contain any ingredients that can harm the fabric. Remember that some carpet cleaners (especially spot removers) can be hazardous as they contain chemical solvents. Carpet stain repellents may contain plastics and other potentially hazardous substances. Many carpet cleaning solutions contain dangerous chemicals that evaporate after drying the fabric and concentrate in the air, causing indoor air pollution. You should be very cautious when choosing a carpet cleaning product. You should be additionally concerned with the product’s ingredients if you live with infants and children.
As we mentioned above, you don’t need any expensive and dangerous chemicals for your carpet. You can always clean it with something home-made. For example, you can use vinegar and baking soda, for that matter. Mix the vinegar and the soda to form a paste. Then, work the paste into the carpet stain with a toothbrush. You can use an old toothbrush if you have one. Let the paste dry, vacuum the baking soda, and the stain should be gone.
There are dozens of other recipes you can find in handbooks or on the Internet if you want to use them instead. If unsure whether you have achieved total carpet cleanliness, consider applying an additional method. Some good old-fashioned carpet beating may satisfy your need to ensure the carpet is clean enough and ready to be used again.