A stain on a carpet can happen so quickly, and unfortunately cleaning it is a real pain. Hiding the stain, scrubbing with soap, taking it to the dry cleaners, throwing it away… how do you actually get rid of those stains? Here Helpling gives you the best tips to make your carpet look new again, and you’ll see, it’s not actually that complicated to wash and maintain a carpet!
Carpet care
As long as the carpet is spotless, dry cleaning is sufficient. It should be vacuumed regularly (at least once a week) because dirt and bacteria quickly accumulate – especially if the carpet has a long pile.
If your carpet is synthetic, a simple vacuum is sufficient. Be sure to vacuum in both directions!
If your carpet is shaggy, remove the hoover brush because it breaks the fibre. Vacuum directly with the nozzle of the hoover. Or, to be on the safe side, you can ask one of the cleaners on the Helpling platform to take care of it during a cleaning service.
Mistakes not to make
Don’t soak your carpet (even the carpet in your car), as the colours may bleed and smudge each other.
Don’t use bleach to clean your carpet (even a small amount), as this will discolour it.
Before using a product purchased in a supermarket, be sure to test it on a small area of the carpet (preferably a corner) to see how the material reacts.
Key steps in carpet cleaning
If your carpet is not very dirty, there is no need for a thorough cleaning. We recommend that you cover the entire carpet with baking soda and leave it on for at least an hour. Then vacuum the carpet (without the brush).
If your carpet is very dirty, the process will take a little longer. You can start with the previous step of using baking soda. Then fill a basin with warm water, add liquid soap and a few drops of ammonia. Sprinkle this mixture onto your carpet and rub vigorously with a washcloth.
Tips for removing stains and bad odours
Bad smells: Carpets can quickly become smelly for a variety of reasons (if you have a pet you’ll understand what we’re talking about), again baking soda will save your carpet. Sprinkle it generously on the carpet and leave it overnight before vacuuming it up.
Mud stains: ammonia will help you remove mud stains
Sugar or glue stains: mix rubbing alcohol with water to remove the stain
Blood stains: to remove blood, you can use white vinegar.
Coffee and grease stains: for these stains, washing-up liquid is the most effective
Get rid of moths
If you find whitish balls on your carpet, they are moth eggs! You need to get rid of them quickly because they can damage your carpet, clothes or even your sofas. First, vacuum the carpet several times to remove all the moths. You can then spray the carpet with insect repellent. Finally, place moth traps in the room.
