Surprisingly Easy Tips for Carpet Care and Maintenance

Walking bare feet on your carpet may feel good for you, but it may not be as good for the carpet as it seems.  The oil from your bare feet rubs off and attracts more soil to your carpet.  Slip on a pair of clean socks instead.  This is a good compromise between sock feet and bare feet. 

Taming the static electricity

If you are constantly generating static electricity in your carpet, especially during winter time, try this easy solution. In a spray bottle, mix one part of fabric softener to five parts of water.  Spray this on your carpet and you will notice the shocks go.  It helps keep your carpet fresh smelling, too.

Make carpet shampooing easier.

You don’t have to move out all your furniture when you shampoo your carpet.  Simply pull a plastic bag over each furniture leg.  Secure it firmly with rubber bands or adhesive tapes.  Move each piece only as much as necessary, then you can move it back into place. 

Club soda works.

When you need to clean spots on your carpet, instead of reaching for the soap, try using club soda. The dirt is loosened by the carbonation.  You can then blot it up easier and it doesn’t leave a sticky residue like soap does. 

Solution for a greasy food spill

If you accidentally spill greasy food, such as a fried chicken on your carpet, do not fear.  What you need may just be in your kitchen cupboard.  After scooping up the greasy food and all the remaining grease that you can remove, pour baking soda over the stained area and rub it in.  Leave it there for an hour to allow the oil to be absorbed.  After an hour run a vacuum cleaner over the soda and you’ll be delighted with the result.

Five-minute carpet miracle

You got guests arriving in less than an hour and your carpet is filthy.  Get half a cup of ammonia and mix it with two cups of water.  Lightly rub the mixture on the carpet using a mop.  You don’t have to use much.  Test the solution first on a hidden area of your carpet just to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage.  Never use ammonia on wool carpets.