One of the most beloved types of home flooring is carpet. From soft fibers to cozy warmth in the winter, carpet is hard to beat for the relaxing and comfortable home environment it creates. However, these plush floors also deal with their fair share of damage. Carpet constantly gets stepped on by your family, stained by coffee and other beverages, and pummeled by your pets. To help maintain your carpet’s functionality and looks, avoid the common carpet maintenance mistakes below.
Pet Stains
We all love our four-legged best friends. Whether you have a dog, cat, or hamster, you know first-hand the joy and happiness that pets can bring to a family. However, mistakes can happen, and it’s important to be prepared for when problems arise. Knowing the proper steps can keep long-term damage from pet poop, vomit and urine to a minimum.
Step one is to pick up the mess quickly after the incident occurs. This includes immediately scooping up any poop and blotting any urine. As you do this, be careful to not scrub the stains. This can push them further into the carpet, making them larger and harder to remove later on. Once all the large debris is cleaned up, use a vinegar solution to clean and blot out the rest.
Coffee Stains
Everyone enjoys a warm cup of Joe in the morning, but very few appreciate the mess it leaves behind when spilled all over their carpet. No matter the size of the mishap, it’s important to be prepared if you want to minimize the damage.
Before you clean, start by consulting the cleaning instructions from the carpet manufacturer. These instructions will help you determine what solutions to use and how to use them. Remember to not scrub your carpet. Instead, blot it out with a towel. Once the remnants of the coffee spill have been removed, use an equal parts white vinegar and water solution, and depending on how light your carpet is, feel free to also use a non-bleach detergent.
Blood Stains
Cuts and scrapes happen all the time with children, pets, and adults, especially in the summer months when outdoor work and play are more common. If blood happens to land on your carpet, here are some actionable steps you can take to mitigate the damage.
Immediately, take cold water and spray it onto the stain. Do not use warm water, as blood solidifies with heat. Create a solution with Dawn or any gentle grease-fighting dishwashing detergent and mix together with cold water, then blot out the stain until it is dry. Repeat this process until the stain gradually disappears.
Ink Stains
Ink stains are some of the most difficult to remove from carpets, especially if the carpet is made of natural fibers like wool or seagrass. But don’t worry just yet—if you act fast enough, you should be able to get those tough ink stains out before they cause permanent damage. As always, make sure you consult the carpet manufacturer’s guidelines before using any at-home solutions.
First, start by spraying the stained area with rubbing alcohol. If you don’t have any, you can also use a nail polish remover or hairspray as an alternative. Keep the solution on your carpet for about an hour and when the hour is up, gently blot the area with a microfiber cloth. Then, blot out the moisture with a clean paper towel or a hair dryer.
