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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

3 Guidelines for DIY Carpet Cleaning

While carpeting offers many benefits that wood and laminate flooring don't, resilience to spills and stains isn't one of them. Professional carpet cleaners can give your carpets a deep clean, but sometimes you might just want to spot treat with a do-it-yourself (DIY) solution. Below are three guidelines for DIY carpet cleaning:

1. Determine whether or not your carpet is colorfast. Before you begin to clean your carpet, you must pretest it to figure out if it's colorfast. According to Better Homes and Gardens, "Colorfast carpet will not bleed, fade, or change when you are cleaning it or removing stains. Whether or not it is colorfast may change the cleaning method or products you choose." Take the following steps:
  • Locate a carpet scrap or find an inconspicuous area (like the inside of your closet) to test on. Be sure to vacuum it clean.
  • Apply stain remover or cleaner to a clean cloth.
  • Place the cloth on top of the test carpet for about an hour. After, absorb the dampness with a dry white cloth.
  • If the white cloth seems to pick up some of the dyes from your carpet, then you don't want to use that specific cleaner or stain remover on the rest of your carpet.
  • Repeat until you find a cleaner that doesn't bleed.

2. Avoid getting the carpet too wet. If your carpet takes too long to dry, it may end up separating from its backing. Furthermore, a damp carpet could become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Your cleaning solution should take no longer than 24 hours to dry.

3. Implement a routine cleaning schedule. Vacuuming routinely will help prevent grit and grime from setting into your carpet. This will help you in the long run -- you'll find yourself needing to spot clean less frequently. Refer to "An Owner's Guide To Rug and Carpet Care" by Martha Stewart for recommendations by carpet type.

Still can't get your carpet as clean as you'd like? Perhaps it's time for a new carpet from JCB Interiors. Our prices start at just 88 cents per square foot! Read more about our huge selection of premium carpet and area rugs at our website.

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