How to clean old stains from a carpet at home: remove it yourself

Carpet is an excellent floor covering. It insulates it, makes it soft and pleasant to walk on, and also creates additional decor and comfort for the room. Now there is a huge selection of these products on the market from a variety of materials.

But carpets often get dirty, because something can periodically fall or spill on the floor; stains also appear from the paws of pets or children’s games. To avoid severe contamination, you need to follow a number of rules. We will talk about them in this article, as well as how to clean old stains from a carpet at home.

Carpet care and stain prevention

There are recommendations, following which the coating will not have to be cleaned often. They will help avoid not only contamination, but also wear and tear of the product.

Do not wash the carpet with hot water.
Wet cleaning of the coating should be carried out once a season, but not more often. This will lead to rapid wear of the product.
Carpets are not cleaned against lint.
You should not wait until the dirt is absorbed into the coating; you need to start cleaning as early as possible.
Do not place the carpet on a wet floor. This will lead to the formation of dampness or even mold, which causes an unpleasant odor, spoils the appearance of the product and is harmful to human health.
It is necessary to regularly re-arrange the carpet so that different parts of it end up in places where people constantly walk. This is required in order to avoid scuffs and contamination of the product in one place.
It is not recommended that there be high humidity in the room. This will lead to deterioration of the coating.
You should vacuum your floors weekly or more frequently, but not less frequently.
High-quality cleaning of the product must be carried out once a year.
It is better not to place light-colored carpets in places where people are constantly present and moving, otherwise they will very quickly darken and lose their beautiful appearance. Light-colored coatings can be used as a decorative element where traffic is lower.
In winter, it is recommended to lay a carpet or carpet on the snow and beat it off. This will clean the product from dust, harmful bacteria and microorganisms.

Important to remember

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust from the carpet once or twice a week. This is especially true for recently purchased products. At first, excess fibers will come out. This happens with almost any carpet, so don't be alarmed.
Once a month, vacuum the carpet from the underside.
If possible, dry clean only. Carpets are generally resistant to moisture and take a long time to dry. Leaving wet carpet on the floor can cause an unpleasant odor or even mildew. In addition, moisture damages parquet and laminate flooring.
Try to remove the stain from the carpet as soon as it appears. The main rule: do not rub dirt into the pile. If something mushy falls on the carpet, scrape it up with a spoon. If liquid spills, blot it up with a napkin or towel. Remove dirt from the edges to the center. Starch or talcum powder scattered around the edges will prevent the stain from spreading.
Do not use laundry detergent to clean the carpet. Residues on the pile will attract new dirt.
If you bought carpet cleaner from a store, test it in an inconspicuous area, such as under a chair. Your carpet may be allergic to this compound.
Send brightly colored viscose or wool carpets to dry cleaning immediately. Don't try to clean them at home.

How to remove various old stains yourself

If the coating does get dirty, the stain needs to be removed. Moreover, the method of removing it depends not only on the type of carpet and the length of its pile, but also on what it was contaminated with.

Tip: Before using any new cleaning composition, test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the product.

How to clean the coating with purchased products

There are many modern household chemicals with different characteristics and prices. Let's look at the most popular and effective ones.

" Vanish" A very well-known and effective product that can remove stains in just 5 minutes. To do this, apply it to the stained area and rub the stain with a sponge. Foam will appear, which will remove dirt from the carpet. After 5 minutes you need to remove it with a dry sponge or cloth. The disadvantages of the product are the high cost and small volume of the bottle.
"Mitex " This is a hypoallergenic powder against dust and dust mites. It is capable of destroying harmful microorganisms, but does not clean the carpet of deep-rooted dirt.
"Flash". The product helps to get rid of not only stains, including stubborn stains, but also unpleasant odors.

"Sunlux". It effectively removes dirt between the carpet pile. Which is very important for soft carpets.
«5+». This is a domestic product that can clean old stains, wash carpets from dust, and can also be used for washing a vacuum cleaner.
"Karcher " This cleaning product has a special method of action. It soaks into the carpet, turns into a powder, and can then be removed with a vacuum cleaner. That is, it effectively washes the coating without using a large amount of water.
"Vox Drop". It allows you not to wash off the drug after use. When the carpet is dry, simply vacuum it. This is an inexpensive product that smells nice and effectively removes almost any dirt.

Important: most of the listed household chemicals cannot be used for natural carpets made of wool, silk, suede or brocade. Only special formulations are intended for them - read the instructions carefully!

DIY remedies

There are many methods for cleaning a very dirty carpet at home. Available and inexpensive materials are used for this purpose.

Soda. It dissolves dirt and destroys odors. It’s simple to use the substance: you just need to sprinkle it on the stain and leave it for half an hour. Afterwards you need to vacuum the rug.
Ammonia. This is a very effective and cheap method. To clean the carpet, you need to dilute 20 ml of alcohol in 1 liter of water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and apply it to the stains. Rub them thoroughly with a sponge, rinse with water, wait until dry and vacuum the carpet.
Lemon juice. It is enough to rub the stains with lemon, and after 2 hours, rinse everything off with water. Allow the carpet to dry completely.
Vinegar. It is more suitable for fresh stains. You need to dilute 4 tablespoons of vinegar in 1 liter of water. Pour the solution into the stained areas, rub with a cloth and leave to dry.
Laundry soap. It should be grated, pour warm water, and mix everything thoroughly. Apply the solution to the stain and dry. Then you need to vacuum the product.

Important: after wet treatment of the carpet, you cannot walk on it or roll it up. It is advisable to dry the product in fresh air.

Ways to clean carpets from stains at home

Before starting the procedure, you need to decide on the material from which the floor covering is made. Carpets made from artificial pile are easy to care for. Synthetic products require regular cleaning.

To do this, use a soda solution. Coatings based on natural materials require more careful handling. Silk carpets do not have the ability to withstand excessive moisture. Because of this, mold often occurs. When cleaning woolen products, it is strictly forbidden to use aggressive chemicals.

Carpets with fluffy long pile are not recommended to be heavily wetted. Otherwise, it may cause the fibers to stick together. Because of this, the appearance suffers. To increase efficiency, the carpet should be scrubbed with a fine-tooth comb. Drastic measures can lead to loss of color.

According to many, carpet can withstand much more than pile. Despite this, the amount of water should be limited. Heavy wetting can lead to deterioration in the quality of the floor covering. You need to act locally. Drying after removing stains is a must. The sooner measures are taken, the higher the likelihood of cleaning up the contamination.

Bran

A mixture of bran, salt and sawdust has a powerful effect. It is used to remove marks left by grease, wine and blood stains. Contaminants caused by coffee are removed with glycerin, cold water and ammonia. To maintain the brightness and splendor of the floor covering, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:

It is necessary to lay the cleaned rug back after it has completely dried.
To avoid scuff marks, the carpet should be turned over from time to time.
If the legs of cabinet furniture are on the covering, soft rubber bands must be used.
Scuffs can be removed using threads of a suitable shade.

How to remove different types of contaminants

The method of removing contaminants depends on what the product is soiled with. To clean a rug, carpet or rug as efficiently as possible, you need to follow simple rules for removing different types of stains. There are many videos on this topic that you can further familiarize yourself with.

Blood. To remove fresh stains, blot them with a dry cloth, then treat the area with a solution of ammonia (1 tbsp per 0.5 l of water). Then wipe with clean water. For light-colored surfaces, you can also use hydrogen peroxide by moistening the stain with it and leaving it for an hour. Then the area must be washed and dried. It is more difficult to get rid of dried blood, but there is an effective way. A mixture of ammonia, borax in glycerin and water in proportions 1:1:2 will help. The composition is applied for 30 minutes, after which it is washed off.
Wine. Immediately sprinkle a fresh stain with salt or soda; after a while, you need to vacuum the area. Then apply a mixture of dishwashing liquid and vinegar or ammonia (1:1). The solution must be washed gradually until the stain disappears.
Dirt from shoes. It should dry well, then it can be easily cleaned with a vacuum cleaner with a special attachment.
Fat. Oil stains should be covered with flour, talcum powder, soda or salt as quickly as possible and left for several hours. Then treat with dish soap (1 tsp per glass of water). Apply the gel to old stains without dilution for 10 minutes. The area is then washed with a vinegar solution (1:1), and then with clean water.

Coffee and tea. Immediately after spilling these liquids, blot the carpet with a rag or paper towel. You can't rub it. Next, the stains are treated with lemon juice diluted 1:8 with water. Other options are a mixture of dishwashing detergent and vinegar (a tablespoon per 2 cups of water) or pure soda, which is poured into the dirt. After applying all the compounds, the area of the product is washed and dried. You can also use "Vanish".
Gum. This is one of the most problematic stains, but it can also be removed in some ways. To do this, you need to freeze the area with ice cubes, and then easily pry off the remaining gum with a knife. Or wet a cloth with makeup or nail polish remover and gently rub the stain with it.
Ink. The best way to remove them is alcohol. You need to apply it to a sponge, moisten the stained area and wait until everything is absorbed for at least 30 minutes. Do not rub the stain. After this, be sure to rinse the area of the product. Another way is to apply shaving foam to the stained area, clean the carpet with it and remove with water.

Marker, pencil. Toothpaste can deal with such stains - apply it with a brush for a few minutes, then rinse the area thoroughly.
Iodine, green stuff. In the first case, the stain is rubbed with raw potatoes and cleaned with water after 15 minutes. Zelenka should be immediately cleaned with a stain remover, soap solution or a cloth moistened with ammonia or hydrogen peroxide.
Gouache. When fresh, it can be easily removed with many available means - washing powder, laundry soap, Fairy for dishes, soda, glycerin, ammonia, commercial stain removers. Here you need to focus on the carpet material.
Ice cream. To clean such a stain, gasoline is used, followed by ammonia diluted in water or household chemicals for carpets.
Old dirt. They are effectively cleaned with tea leaves, which are applied to the surface for several hours and then removed with a broom or vacuum cleaner. You can also spray a vinegar solution and sprinkle it with baking soda, and after half an hour, vacuum the product.

Important: all dirt should be removed from the edges to the middle so that they do not “spread” further.

Cleaning tools

For cleaning you will need sponges, cotton rags, paper napkins and rubber gloves. But the main tool for cleaning carpets is a brush. There are several different types:

Manual. Helps remove pet hair and stains from the surface.
Mechanical. This is a device with special rollers that sweep debris into a small container. Cope with dust, cigarette ash and dry dirt.
Vacuum cleaner attachments. Manufacturers equip their products with attachments with bristles of different heights for cleaning carpets with long and short pile.

For delicate surfaces, you can use rollers with adhesive tape.

How to Remove Dirt from a Long Pile Carpet

A carpet with a long pile can be cleaned in the same ways as a regular one: using household chemicals (except for dishwashing detergents and powders), soda, laundry soap, vinegar, lemon. However, you should remember that you cannot wash it against the lint. You should try to remove all dirt and stains in a timely manner while they are fresh.

Since long-pile carpet is more difficult to clean, you should vacuum it, ventilate it and beat it outside more often. After washing, it must be dried very carefully to prevent mold or mildew from forming. At least once a year, take the product to a special dry cleaner to maintain its luxurious appearance and softness.

A carpet is a comfortable and beautiful floor covering, but you need to properly and regularly care for it so that a cozy piece of furniture does not lose its positive qualities and does not deteriorate in appearance. This is not difficult to do if you follow simple recommendations and be careful, carefully studying the instructions for the products. Moreover, now you know how to wash the carpet at home if it does get dirty.

Mechanical methods

Special devices will help get rid of dust and dirt. Let's look at what methods are effective for cleaning carpets.

Steam cleaning

A harmless and effective way to care for a carpet: it refreshes the covering and prevents the appearance of dust mites. Using a steam cleaner is easy; just fill it with clean water, wait until the device turns it into steam, and start cleaning.

If there are contaminated areas, you can use special cleaning products, then treat them with steam. It penetrates deep into the carpet and softens even stubborn dirt. Please note: not all types of pile can withstand hot steam treatment. After the procedure, the carpet must be dried thoroughly.

Carpet beating

Perform dry cleaning outdoors in calm weather. Before beating, vacuum the carpet on both sides to remove some of the dust and lift the pile. Hang the product on the rack with the pile facing inward. Continue cleaning until dust stops flying up when struck. Leave the rug on the counter for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the dust to settle on the ground. Then brush away any remaining dirt with a broom.

Burnt the carpet with a cigarette

Cigarette-burned stains on carpet or carpet can be disguised. You don't even need a lot of time, patience or golden hands. So…

Before restoration, clean and dry the carpet.

Carefully trim the lint inside the stain. Pull out the damaged fibers with tweezers and throw them in the trash.
Somewhere in an inconspicuous place, cut a little intact pile with sharp nail scissors. Usually such a place is found under a sofa, armchair, or closet.
Lubricate the stain with household glue. Place prepared substitute fibers on it. Try to lay it out in such a way as to preserve the pattern of the carpet.
Cover this area with plastic. Place a heavy object on top - a book, a stool upside down.
Drive away the inquisitive children, dog and husband - this building must not be touched.
After 4-5 days, remove the weight and check the strength of the pile - if everything is dry, comb the patch according to the growth of the carpet fibers. Or fluff it with your fingers, giving the desired direction.

There is no point in restoring large areas of burnt carpet on your own - it will take considerable dexterity to cut out the damaged area, then find and cut out a patch for it. Then you can successfully glue it to the damaged area.

Such damage is either trusted to strong professionals, or simply hidden under furniture and decor.

Features of cleaning without removing from the floor

When cleaning the carpet yourself, it is important to remember that you should not allow it to get too wet, since high-quality drying in a horizontal position is impossible.

Methods by which you can remove dirt from a rug without removing it from the floor:

If there is an animal in the apartment, then its fur will remain on the carpet, which a vacuum cleaner cannot always handle. In such cases, a clothes roller with a sticky base is quite effective. To maintain cleanliness, it is enough to use it once every 2 weeks.
The steam generator for cleaning synthetic rugs has also proven itself to be positive. But here you need to take into account that stains from blood, milk and eggs cannot be treated with it. Under the influence of high temperature, the protein structure will only become more firmly attached to the surface.
Lint-free rugs can be easily cleaned with rotating turbo brushes.
Sometimes a broom or brush soaked in water is enough to get rid of dust.

Products that can be used for dry cleaning:

hydrogen peroxide;
ammonia;
vinegar;
starch;
soda;
household chemicals intended for dry cleaning.

Advice! To ensure that the cleaning is not in vain, it is better to clean the carpet late in the evening. Also, be sure to ventilate the room afterward, and turn on an additional heater in winter.

Preventive measures

If you haven't yet encountered difficult stains and are reading this article because "forewarned is forearmed," there are still protective measures you can take. For example, purchase a sofa/chair with a removable cover or make a custom cover for existing upholstered furniture. It is important that the fabric is dense, preferably even with waterproof impregnation or a separate protective layer, but still suitable for machine washing.

Buy waterproof mattress covers for your sleeping areas: if something spills, you only have to wash the bed linen and mattress cover, and the mattress will remain clean. For carpets, the main recommendation is to choose a color on which the stains will not be so noticeable if they are not completely removed.

So…

Be proud of your clean carpet in front of your friends!
Dear Clean, we have cleaned your carpet. Let it always surprise you with its cleanliness and bright colors without much effort on your part. Relax on soft pile with the whole family. But in the evening... What would you like when the children are sleeping?

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