Carpets contribute significantly to the coziness in the home. But over time, they suffer from daily use, dirt and stains. Nevertheless, you can do without professional cleaning. Because you can get even stubborn stains out of most carpets yourself – using household products, the washing machine or a hand wash. Find out here what you need to bear in mind when cleaning carpets with household products.
It may seem trivial, but to keep your carpet clean and beautiful for a long time, you need to vacuum it regularly. If you have the money and space for another household appliance, you can also invest in a washing vacuum cleaner for time-saving deep cleaning of your carpet. If this is too time-consuming for you, you can just as easily clean the carpet with household products.
Cleaning carpets – household remedies and tips
If you want to remove damp stains from carpets, you should act quickly. This is because the liquid has not yet penetrated as deeply into the fibers and the stain is easier to get out. Therefore, try to soak up the liquid immediately with a cloth or kitchen paper. Do not rub or apply pressure, however, as this will cause the dirt to penetrate deeper into the fabric.
Before you use a stain remover or one of the following home remedies for stains, you should use warm water and a clean cloth. Many stains are water-soluble and can be easily removed with gentle twisting movements.
Home remedies to clean the carpet
- Vinegar: Mix vinegar essence with water in a 1:1 ratio. Soak a cotton cloth in the mixture and carefully dab the stain on the carpet. After half an hour, wipe the area with clean water.
- Baking powder or baking soda: Sprinkle this on the stain and moisten with water. Leave on for several hours or at least until the mixture has dried, then vacuum.
- Salt: For red wine stains, simply sprinkle salt on the stain from the outside inwards, leave to dry and vacuum after a few hours.
- Shaving foam: Apply this to the stain and brush into the carpet. After one hour, remove the shaving foam and dirt with a cloth.
Wash the carpet yourself
Certain plant fibers (e.g. raffia, sisal and coconut fibers) only tolerate very little water. Here you should only treat the stain carefully with a damp cloth (or an old toothbrush if necessary) and a little detergent.
Leather carpets also hardly tolerate any water and should only be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth and a natural soap.
Some lambskin rugs can be cleaned in the washing machine on the wool program without spinning. However, there are also lambskin rugs that can only withstand cold water and a special moisturizing detergent, and even some that can only be dry-cleaned.
Washing carpets in the washing machine
Small and light rugs made of synthetic fabrics (e.g. polyester), cotton and wool can be washed in the washing machine at 30 °C on the delicate wash program.
Larger and heavier rugs are not suitable for conventional washing machines due to their weight. However, you can wash such rugs in a launderette if they are not too large. There are washing machines with more capacity.
Washing carpets by hand
- Vacuum the carpet. Long-pile carpets should also be combed before washing.
- Pre-treat stains with water and curd soap or a mild detergent.
- Pour lukewarm water and a mild detergent into the bathtub and stir to form a suds solution.
- Leave the carpet to soak for between 15 and 60 minutes, depending on the material and degree of soiling.
- Knead the carpet thoroughly and, if it is made of a robust material, treat it with a soft brush.
- Then rinse the carpet several times with clean water until there is no more foam.
- Finally, wring out the rug thoroughly and hang it on a washing line or clothes horse.
- The carpet must be completely dry when you lay it out again, otherwise mold will form.
Sources: kaercher, utopia, house journal
Thumbnails: ©Flickr/Teresa Trimm ©Flickr/Stefani Spitzer
