A+ Carpet & Furniture Cleaning
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We’ve all accidently spilled drinks on our carpets, or stained them by tracking dirt in from outside. What most of us haven’t done, however, is buy a professional carpet cleaning solution to use in these situations. Fortunately, you might not have to buy anything at all to get your carpet looking like new again. You can make your own homemade carpet cleaning solution with a few household items. Here are a few ways to get started:
Synthetic Carpet Cleaners
Note: Dip a white cloth into these solutions and apply to the stain. Never pour the solutions directly onto carpeting.
- Detergent solution: Mix 1/4 teaspoon of a translucent liquid dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn or Joy, into one cup of lukewarm water.
- Vinegar solution: Mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of water.
- Solvent solution: Use an oil solvent. Or substitute nail-polish remover, such as Cutex Quick & Gentle non-acetone polish remover.
- Ammonia solution: Mix one tablespoon of clear household ammonia with 1/2 cup of lukewarm water.
Other Solutions
- Baking soda works to remove pet stains. Just sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the soiled section, and then let it sit for a couple hours before vacuuming.
- Club soda also works well, but may have to be applied with a cleaning solution several times before a stain is removed. Start by blotting the section before pouring the club soda over it. Once the solution has stopped fizzing, immediately blot the spot again, repeating as necessary.
- Diluted bleach can help too. Just use 10 parts water to one part bleach. Spray the solution on the stain, and then let it sit for 15 seconds before thoroughly rinsing the area with warm water. If you can still see the stain, repeat the process until the spot is gone.
Considering these homemade stain remedies is a great way to save money!
If these solutions do not work for your stains or if you would be more comfortable allowing professionals to handle this for you, call us anytime!
You may not cry over spilled milk, but that could definitely change when a full glass of red wine is splattered all over your favorite oriental rug. What can you do to remove those deep red stains? Follow these steps in case of a wine emergency!
- Right when the spill happens, take a wash cloth and dab the area in order to get the excess wine out of the rug.
- If you have it, reach for your favorite carpet shampoo or clothing stain remover, and clean as you would when removing dirt from your clothing.
- There are wine stain solutions in stores such as “MacGyver” and “Wine Away” but you could even make your own by using everyday arsenal removers such as hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, soda ash, vinegar, club soda, salt, and white wine.
- If red wine hits a light colored carpet, try to blot as much as possible, then spray the area with hydrogen peroxide and follow by sprinkling baking soda on it. Leave it on the stain for about 2-3 minutes and rinse with water.
- Ironically enough, when red wine is spilled on a carpet, white wine can step in and be your true companion. White wine will neutralize the red wine, and that will make it easier to lift the redness out of your carpet. After you pour the white wine on the red wine, take a towel and blot (do not rub) the liquid up.
- Adding salt or club soda can help to lift out the pigment in the stain. The salt will act as a buffer and will keep the stain from setting, while the carbonation in the club soda will help lift the stain from the fibers in the carpet.
- Vinegar is also a useful resource when looking to neutralize the purple pigments in red wine stains. When combined with soap or club soda, it will become a stain-fighting force. Add laundry detergent to the vinegar, let it soak together for a few moments, and then apply it to the stain. Work from the outer edge of the stain, using a little at a time and blot up with dry cloths frequently.
- While you try and figure out which method you’ll use to clean up the stain, immediately apply salt to the area in efforts to keep the wine from setting.
A + Carpet & Furniture Cleaning 2431 Mcatee Drive Longview WA 98632