How to clean a long pile carpet: care at home

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A long-pile carpet is a part of the interior that brings comfort to the home. Walking on it is much more pleasant than on a cold floor. To maintain its appearance for a long time, it must be carefully looked after. You can do this yourself or seek help from professionals. They will help you choose the best method, or tell you how to clean a long-pile carpet at home.

What are the benefits of long pile carpets?

A pile that is more than two and a half centimeters is considered long. The advantage of this type of flooring is its attractive appearance. Helps retain heat and quickly absorb moisture. Among the disadvantages: dust settles on it more often, as does dirt.

If you do not provide full care to a long-pile carpet, it will very quickly lose its appearance, color and structure. It is cleaning that allows the villi to remain in their original condition. If you contaminate the surface, start cleaning immediately. If you don’t know how to do this, then contact your nearest dry cleaner. Some mistakes can lead to property damage.

Why does it get dirty?

A long-pile carpet is an interior detail that adds comfort and warmth in the cold winter. The product should be handled carefully and protected from any contamination. Among the most popular reasons why a product gets dirty are:

• Food stains. People often spill drinks and drop various foods.
• Sediment of dirt and sand from shoes. It is these components that wear out the product as quickly as possible. Because of them, shine and elasticity are lost.
• Getting hair and pet fur deep into the carpet.

Try to handle the product carefully. You should not walk on it in shoes. It is better to use such a component as a decorative part of the interior. Also, do not place long-pile coverings in high-traffic areas.

Cleaning methods and products

To choose a method for cleaning a long-pile carpet, determine the material from which it is made. This will allow you to choose the desired washing method. Most often, such items are made from synthetics - acrylic, polyamide, nylon, which are easy to care for and practically do not cause headaches when cleaning.

Woolen ones are demanding to care for. If you use unsuitable detergents, the material may deteriorate. They are also short-lived and can wear off quickly. Due to the special material, they look very shaggy, which adds extra comfort to any home. A special advantage of long-pile woolen carpets is hypoallergenicity. Some of the most popular cleaning products include:

• Vanish. This is the most popular shampoo. Cleans the surface well and allows you to remove even stubborn stains.
• Shampoo 5+. Ideal for carpets made from natural materials.
• Drop of VOX. A product that helps preserve color. Effectively copes with corrosive contaminants.
• Udalix Ultra. A universal product that is also used for cleaning carpets.

To clean, use a thick, soft brush. It will help comb out any dirt. You can also carry out cleaning using folk remedies. Among them:

• Soda. Sprinkle it in a thick layer and leave for 30 minutes. After that, wash by hand. It will help remove unpleasant odors and remove any contaminants.
• Soap. Take a bar of laundry soap and grate a small part of it. A tablespoon of the resulting grains should be dissolved in 200 ml of warm water. For greater effect, add turpentine. The coating must be treated with the resulting solution and left for 5-7 minutes. Then wipe the surface with a dry cloth and ventilate the room.
• Vinegar. Regular vinegar will help get rid of stains. Add two to three tablespoons of acid per liter of water. Mix the ingredients, comb the pile with the resulting product using a soft brush. This method will add shine and shine.
• Ammonia. Effectively copes with traces of chocolate, coffee or tea. Add 20 grams of alcohol and a tablespoon of regular powder to a liter of warm water. Treat the coating with the resulting solution and wipe it with a damp cloth.
• Ice. Removes traces of plant juice and resin. Freeze the stain, then scrape off the remaining parts with a knife. The remainder can be withdrawn in any convenient way.

Wet cleaning using home remedies

Experienced housewives know quite a few time-tested remedies that will help refresh long carpet runners or rid them of stains without outside help.

Light cleaning products

The simplest cleaning product can be prepared by mixing 1 tbsp. a spoonful of soda with a liter of water. Pour the resulting composition into a spray bottle, spray over the surface of the carpet, and leave for 30-60 minutes. Then all that remains is to vacuum the product and enjoy its freshness. This composition is not suitable for removing serious contaminants, but it can easily make the surface cleaner.

A remedy similar in effectiveness can be obtained by dissolving 1 teaspoon of soda with 1 teaspoon of 9% vinegar in a liter of water. Use similarly to the previous one.

A composition made from 5 liters of water, 3 tablespoons of washing powder and 1 tablespoon of ammonia will help to refresh an old Russian long-pile carpet. The composition is applied to the surface of the floor covering with a sponge or brush, and then removed with a clean damp cloth.

Regular salt absorbs light stains perfectly. You just need to slightly moisten the surface of the carpet, then lightly sprinkle it with salt and vacuum it after a while. This cheap cleaner will brighten your carpet and keep it free from dust.

Removing stains

For spot contamination in the form of spots, you will need completely different care products with a more aggressive composition.

Regular 9% vinegar will help remove stains from alcohol, berries, and milk. It is enough to mix a teaspoon of vinegar with a liter of water and treat the stain with the resulting mixture using a spray bottle. Then all you have to do is wipe the cleaning area with a dry cloth and ventilate the room.

Stains from blood, tea, coffee, chocolate and wine are removed with ammonia. To prepare the product, a teaspoon of ammonia is mixed with a glass of water, the resulting composition is sprayed onto the stain, and after 10-15 minutes the treated area is wiped with a sponge or dry cloth. Please note that ammonia should not be used to clean wool carpets.

Instructions for cleaning long piles at home

Long-pile carpets are very susceptible to stains. They quickly absorb dirt, accumulate dust and hair. Because of this, it is necessary to provide him with complete care. You need to clean a product with long pile according to the following instructions:

• Vacuum the floor thoroughly. To better treat the surface, use a narrow nozzle. It will more powerfully suck in contaminants even from the depths. A vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle will allow you to get rid of even old dirt that has already been trampled on.
• Prepare a cleaning solution. To do this, fill a bucket with water and pour the selected detergent into it according to the proportions recommended by the manufacturer. After this, mix everything thoroughly.
• Take a soft brush and soak it in the solution. After this, start brushing in a circular motion.
• After thoroughly treating the entire surface, take a dry cloth and wipe the carpet. The soaked dirt will be absorbed into it. Repeat this step several times.
• You can finish the job only after the rag remains clean.
• Be sure to comb the pile to give it volume and shine.
• Dry the product thoroughly. This can be done on the balcony or on the street. In winter, you can use a fan. If you place a wet carpet on the floor, mold will soon appear on the inside.

To clean a long-pile carpet as efficiently as possible, you need to do everything one at a time. Make sure you don't miss a single step. On average, cleaning 1 square meter will take 30-60 minutes. It is better to regularly do such short cleaning than to buy a new product later.

How to clean a long-pile carpet: the correct algorithm

After dry vacuuming, inspect the carpet.
Found stains? Use Vanish stain remover. Then move on to a full cleaning. IMPORTANT:

Wet cleaning is not suitable for carpets made of natural silk, viscose, and natural wool. Dry cleaning in organic solvents is the best way to care for them. Mactailor has its own workshop.

When choosing household chemicals for carpets, not only the fiber composition is important, but also the color and dye fastness. For light-colored surfaces, Vanish shampoo is suitable for hand cleaning or vacuum cleaning. For dark and colored carpets, look for a chlorine-free product to prevent the colors from fading.

Cleaning with baking soda

When it comes to homemade carpet cleaners, baking soda is number one. It is used in dry cleaning, stain removal, and general cleaning with an aqueous solution. Advantages of the method:

• soda is not toxic. Its vapors do not pollute indoor air;
• almost all types of carpets and types of fiber, except natural silk and viscose, tolerate cleaning with soda;
• When dry cleaning with soda, it is easier to remove it from the pile than talc, baby powder, and potato starch, which in small quantities remain in the pile forever.

Dry and wet dry cleaning of the carpet with baking soda is possible.
When dry, sprinkle it with soda, rub it in with a soft brush in the direction of the pile, then collect it with a vacuum cleaner. Baking soda cleans and removes unpleasant odors. If the coating is suitable for wet cleaning, dissolve 1 tbsp. spoons of soda in 1 liter of water, spray through a spray bottle, let the pile dry, clean with a vacuum cleaner.

Tips from Mactailor specialists for cleaning long-pile carpets

Cozy, fashionable long-pile carpets are quite difficult to care for. Since they need a delicate approach, we want to share with you the recommendations of our cleaners:

1. Regularly (1-2 times a week) remove dust from the carpet with a vacuum cleaner.
2. Winter beating on clean snow cleans the carpet from dust, dirt, and foreign odors.
3. Do not water-clean long-pile carpets during the cold season unless absolutely necessary. In 95 cases out of 100, a musty smell in the carpet appears due to the appearance of mold and fungus colonies in the damp pile.
4. Remove stains immediately (Vanish, foam from laundry soap).

In difficult cases, call our company.
Experienced specialists will clean the carpet quickly, efficiently, and inexpensively. Long-pile carpets are popular in Russia. Among them are shaggy carpets, reminiscent of fine-wool sheep skin with long soft pile. Ideally, their care should be entrusted to specialists from specialized companies. But Russians prefer home conditions, amateur cleaning. Is it good?

Features of cleaning white long pile

In order for a white long-pile carpet to please you with its attractive appearance for as long as possible, it must be carefully looked after. First of all, remember to vacuum it regularly to prevent dust and dirt from settling on the surface. If you don't do this, you risk seriously contaminating the coating.

If the product is made of natural material, use dry cleaning. This is a special method that provides a gentle effect. If the contamination is significant, then give preference to dry cleaning.

Products made from artificial materials should be regularly cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Use only high-quality detergents to quickly get rid of dirt. Avoid using aggressive cleaning products.

Care Tips

Long pile has special care requirements. To keep it looking good for a long time, try to follow the following tips from professionals:

• At least once every 7-10 days, treat the surface with a regular vacuum cleaner. Long pile is not treated with a washing device.
• Only gentle chemicals are used for them. Another may burn synthetic fibers.
• In summer, take the covering to the crossbar and knock it out as much as possible.
• In winter, you can clear it with snow. Place it on a snowdrift, carefully knock it out, sprinkling a small amount of snow on top.
• You should not resort to cleaning the carpet yourself if it is very expensive. Most likely, it is made from natural materials, so you need to take special care of it.
• After cleaning and washing, it should be dried thoroughly. Even if slightly damp, you should not place it on the floor.
• After working with chemical detergents, you should ventilate the room for at least 1-2 hours. In summer, this period can be increased several times.
• When working with cleaning components, be sure to wear rubber gloves and a respirator that will protect the respiratory system from toxic substances.

If you don’t know how to clean a long-pile carpet, it’s best to turn to a professional. They will provide all the necessary materials themselves and will not damage your coating.

The final chord is to vacuum thoroughly

As you understand, any carpet, especially long-pile carpet, requires regular care. Carpets should be cleaned every week. This is best done using powerful vacuum cleaners with different attachments. In this case, areas with heavy contamination need to be treated especially intensively. These primarily include:

• areas of heavy traffic,
• exits to the balcony and entrances to the premises,
• next to the workplace.

In order to clean the carpet completely and not miss anything, it is better to roughly divide it into sectors and carefully vacuum them one by one.

When working with a vacuum cleaner, do not rush. Just one pass with a vacuum cleaner, even a super-powerful one, is clearly not enough. It is necessary to slowly walk with the nozzle along the catch sector several times. This will make it possible to eliminate all accumulated dust and dirt. Particular attention should be paid to areas where people often sit or walk. These places need a more thorough approach and are vacuumed crosswise. Thus, a product with long pile can be maintained in good condition for a long time. After this cleaning, your carpet will remain as attractive and clean as when you bought it.