Carpets can suffer a lot of wear and tear for different reasons. Marks, stains, color changes, bacteria, pollen remains, dust, and a long, etc., coexist in it. It seems impossible to keep your carpet clean in these circumstances, let alone if there are children or animals at home. But don’t despair; with these seven simple tips and tricks, your carpet will look new.
Watch out for the furniture!
If several pieces of furniture rest on the carpet in your house, and even more so if these pieces are heavy, the ideal is to rotate the rug at least once a year to avoid concentrated wear and tear on a single area of the carpet. This way, you will prevent premature marks and get it to stay smooth for much longer. Still, if your carpet already has effects, a good trick is to use ice cubes on the affected areas. The rug will cup, and the indentation will disappear.
Direct sun “eats” the color of your carpet.
If your carpet has lost its original color due to wear and, above all, due to continuous exposure to the sun, these two simple tricks are very effective:
Fat salt Mix water and salt in a container until a paste forms. Then spread the paste on the carpet, let it dry, and finally, rub it with a brush to make it more effective. Finish by removing the remains with the vacuum cleaner.
Spirit vinegar. This method, boiling, is very effective too. Rub the surface of the rug with a cotton cloth dipped in vinegar. Leave for a few minutes and wipe with a dry cloth before vacuuming.
Avoid dust at all costs.
If the carpet is not dusted regularly, the fibers will break down, and the rug will cake. The best way to do it is with the vacuum cleaner, but only with the tube, since using the vacuum cleaner brush, the rug will wear out more quickly, and it is better to avoid it.
The edges of the carpet are raised.
It is a fairly common problem, although whether it appears or not depends a lot on the material of our carpet. A simple and incredibly effective trick is applying moisture to the corners with a spray can or a damp cloth. Once moistened, it is best to place some weight on them to help them return to their original shape.
Difficult stains.
There are countless types of stains and ways to treat them, but a few tips are universal when treating stains on carpets. For example, acting quickly is essential. The first thing you should do is remove the remains with absorbent paper. Wipe from the edge to the center and never use a very wet sponge: you can cause the stain to spread. Here are some simple tips for some of the most common stubborn stains:
Of red wine. Eliminate it by rubbing the affected area with sparkling water, then spread a cleansing foam.
Of tea or coffee. They are cleaned by rubbing the stain with a mixture of detergent and white vinegar.
Of chewing gum. Don’t try to boot it directly. Harden the gum with an ice cube, and it will be easier for you to remove.
Ballpoint ink. It is removed by “pinching” the stain with a spotless white cloth impregnated with milk.
The carpet moves a lot.
The most effective, without a doubt, is to use an anti-slip, changing it from time to time to avoid losing adherence. There are several options, although the most common is to use rubber or rubber strips on the corners or latex pads.
Know your carpet.
Lastly, and probably the most important, is to know what type of carpet you have at home. The way to clean and treat it can vary a lot depegreatly on its material, preparation, or size. Some helpful tips, depending on the fabric of the rug, are as follows:
- Vegetable fibers: it would be a good idea to wipe them with a damp cloth with neutral soap and not too much water from time to time.
- Wool: If they are too big, it is better that you take them directly to the dry cleaner so that they leave them in perfect condition, but if they are manageable, it is enough to wash them with neutral soap, cold water, and salt.
- Latex or jute. So the ideal is to renew them every time they look very damaged. They are the least practical since they are rugs that cannot be washed because the water spoils them quickly.
- Cotton. They have the same washing process as the wool ones and if, in addition, it has many colors, follow the steps strictly so that they do not mix and you end up with a faded rug.
We hope these seven tips and tricks have helped you extend the life of your carpet and make it look like it just came out of the store.
