The extractor method of carpet cleaning is an excellent way to combat dirt. But it is not suitable for all types of pile products. For example, contact with water is contraindicated for carpets made from natural fibers. In this case, an alternative method is dry cleaning.
Dry carpet cleaning is often also called powder cleaning due to the appearance of the cleaner. The detergent composition really looks like a powder, but in fact it consists of millions of microsponges. Small sponges are impregnated with a special composition that dissolves any dirt: water, oily or greasy. The sponges “pick up” dirt from the carpet fibers and then remove it with a vacuum cleaner.
What it is?
Dry carpet cleaning has a second name - powder, as powdered cleaners are used for cleaning. In appearance, the detergent composition of such products really resembles powder, but in fact it consists of a million microsponges.
Important! Cleaning powder is an absorbent, biodegradable cleaning composition that is spread evenly over the surface. For minor stains, use a household brush, which allows you to carefully apply the product to the carpet pile.
The microsponges included in the powder are impregnated with a cleaning composition that dissolves any type of dirt: water, oil, greasy. Small sponges pull dirt out of the carpet fibers, and then remove it with a vacuum cleaner.
Have you dry cleaned your carpet before?
Not really
Popular cleaners
Undoubtedly, at a dry cleaner, specialists will clean your carpet perfectly, but it is not always possible to take it to professionals, so most housewives use carpet cleaning products at home. The assortment of these products in hardware stores today is huge: shampoos, powders, foams, and therefore it is not easy to make a choice.
How to clean a carpet at home? When choosing the right tool, you should consider some parameters:
- the material from which the coating is made;
- paint quality (fades or not);
- degree of pollution;
- homeowners' tolerance/intolerance to individual components of the composition, tendency to allergies.
Pros and cons of dry cleaning
The advantages of dry carpet cleaning include:
- Less risk of damage to the coating. Carpet, like any other fabric, is damaged by too much moisture. During dry cleaning, no water is used, so the coating will retain its color and beautiful appearance longer.
- Quick cleansing saves time. Carpets are made of thick fabric that need to be dried for a long time and thoroughly. Since water is not used during dry cleaning, there is no need to dry the carpet.
- Efficiency and saving money. Dry cleaning can remove any dirt from a soft surface. In addition to saving water, the process uses fewer chemicals than other types of cleaning. The result is that you save on financial costs.
- Does not harm health. During cleaning, harmful chemicals are often used, which leave an unpleasant and strong odor after cleaning. Dry cleansing products contain far fewer chemicals and are healthier.
The disadvantages of dry carpet cleaning include:
- Residues may end up on clothing. If you don't vacuum properly, you will end up with stains of cleaning product on the floor and along the edges of the carpet. You need to be especially careful if there is a small child in the house.
- Low efficiency of the method. The product cleanses the top part of the pile well, but it cannot get to its base. To do this, brushes are used to “rub” the cleaner into the carpet. If this is not done, the coating will not be completely cleaned.
Basic rules of care
To maintain cleanliness in the house, it is recommended to regularly clean carpets and rugs.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to wash such coatings in the traditional way, but dirt cannot be ignored. A dusty carpet is an excellent haven for dust mites, which can cause various diseases.
You can prevent unwanted consequences if you follow the recommendations:
- Carpet cleaning must be carried out regularly immediately after purchase;
- Light colored surfaces should be cleaned at least once a week;
- Before washing the carpet and removing stains, first remove pet hair and small debris;
- After wet cleaning, the carpet and carpet must be dried;
- It is recommended to clean stains immediately, since old marks cannot always be removed.
Carpet cleaning tools
The main tool for carpet cleaning is a vacuum cleaner with a carpet brush. However, you may need additional sets of brushes: to remove dust, dirt, and remove animal hair and hair.
If you are cleaning wool from a low-pile carpet, use a rubber window squeegee to help reduce cleaning time.
Advice! Buy a roller with adhesive tape. Use hard brushes that do not damage the structure of the pile.
Read how to clean a rug here, a carpet here, a white carpet here.
Folk remedies for carpet cleaning
“Folk remedies” often include products that are a budget option. In addition, they show good efficiency. If you are allergic to chemicals or are afraid that traces of them may remain on the carpet, use home remedies.
Soda
Cleansing with soda is fast, effective and one of the most affordable options. The powder copes well with cleaning carpets, as it is a good absorbent from unpleasant odors and dirt, and also performs the function of disinfection.
During dry cleaning, soda is scattered over the surface of the carpet and rubbed into the pile with a sponge (or a dry cloth). The substance should be left on the coating for approximately 30 minutes, after which it should be removed using a vacuum cleaner.
To carry out wet cleaning you will need to make a cleaning agent, for this use:
- water – 5 l.;
- soda – 100 g.
Pour the resulting product into a spray bottle and then spray the carpet with it. Leave the product on the carpet for 40 minutes to allow it to work and draw dirt from the base of the fibers. This time is enough for the substance to react; after cleaning, do not forget to vacuum it.
Baking soda will help not only when cleaning the carpet, but also when cleaning the microwave.
Salt
Table salt is a common means of removing contaminants. It is used on both synthetic and natural carpets. The main feature of salt is the removal of unpleasant and “absorbed” odors.
There are four ways to remove salt stains:
- Sprinkle salt on the dirty areas of the carpet and, using a brush, rub it into the pile until the salt darkens. After this, vacuum the carpet well or use a dust blower.
- Sprinkle the salt evenly over the coating. After this, prepare a hot soapy solution. Dip a broom into it and sweep the carpet. This method will help remove stubborn dirt. However, the carpet will need to be dried.
- Salt and lemon juice will help restore the brightness of a faded carpet. Mix the mixture well, apply it to the surface, leave for 20 minutes. Then use a broom and soap solution to remove traces of the mixture.
- To remove small stains, mix: 1 liter of water, 10 g of citric acid and 1 tbsp. l. salt. Apply the resulting mixture to the carpet. It will restore saturation to the fibers and eliminate unpleasant odors.
Vinegar
Vinegar will not help remove stubborn old stains; it is better to use it to refresh the carpet, removing dust and light dirt from it. For this:
- Vacuum the carpet.
- Add 1 tbsp to 1 liter of cool water. l. vinegar.
- Take a medium-hard brush, dip it in the mixture and clean the carpet. To ensure that the carpet does not remain damp after cleaning, shake the brush thoroughly.
- Open the window to ventilate and dry the coating.
If there is a large stain on the carpet that you left the other day, use a combination of vinegar + baking soda to clean:
- Mix 5 tbsp. l. water and 1 tbsp. l. acetic acid 70%.
- Using a sponge, gently rub the mixture onto the affected area.
- Sprinkle baking soda on top and leave for 30 minutes.
- Vacuum.
Important! As the coating is cleaned, a chemical reaction will begin to occur in the solution and you will see small bubbles on the surface. Don't worry, it's the acid and alkali that are starting to interact.
The following method is suitable for enhanced action on complex oil and grease stains:
- Pour 100 g of warm water into a container, add 4 tbsp. l. vinegar, 1 tbsp. l. soda and 1 tbsp. l. washing powder.
- Quickly stir the mixture and apply it to the carpet.
- Gently wipe the heavily soiled area with a cloth or brush.
- Wait 30 minutes and then go through with a vacuum cleaner.
Before using vinegar on carpets, test a small area for the interaction between the lint and the acid.
Vinegar will help not only when cleaning the carpet, but also for cleaning the washing machine.
Tea brewing
Tea brewing will help neutralize unpleasant odors and get rid of small areas of dirt. However, it cannot be used on light-colored surfaces, as this will only ruin them.
To clean the carpet, follow a simple algorithm:
- Brew small leaf tea. It can be either black or green.
- Wring out the leaves and while they are wet, place them on the contaminated areas.
- Wait until the tea leaves dry and remove it with a broom or vacuum cleaner.
Sauerkraut
There is a main rule in this method of carpet cleaning: the cabbage must be fermented without adding vinegar, and before use it must be thoroughly rinsed to remove the characteristic odor. After this, scatter the cabbage over the carpet and use a broom or brush to “roll” it over the entire carpet.
Pieces of cabbage will collect dirt, so they need to be constantly washed while cleaning. This process should be repeated until the cabbage stops getting dirty. At the end of cleaning, vacuum the surface.
Ice
Ice will help refresh the coating and return it to its rich color, and also get rid of unpleasant odors and dust mites. Light stains can be removed from low-pile carpeting. For other products, other cleaning methods should be used.
Advice! Using ice, you can easily remove chewing gum or plasticine from the coating. Wrap a piece of ice in a plastic bag and apply it to the stained area.
After this, use any metal object, but not a sharp one, to carefully remove the remaining chewing gum. To remove old stains, use alcohol, kerosene or acetone. This article will tell you how to remove slime from a carpet.
Household chemicals
Still, household chemicals are much more effective than home remedies, especially in cases where you need to clean a large carpet. Firstly, it will take less time. Secondly, they cope much better with stubborn stains:
- Powder. Used for dry cleaning, both for natural and synthetic products. The only condition is that the coating must have short pile. The powdered product is easy to use: apply it to the surface, distribute evenly, rub into the pile, and then remove.
- Shampoo. A universal product suitable for any type of carpet and pile. Most often they are used to remove stubborn dirt. The shampoo is applied to the surface in the form of foam, left for 10-20 minutes, then removed with a vacuum cleaner. Despite its foaming ability, the product does not deteriorate the adhesive base of the product.
- Spray. Designed for natural materials with long pile. Intense moistening is contraindicated for such coatings; their cleaning should be done gently and delicately. The spray allows you to gently spray the product onto the surface of the carpet, and after drying it can be easily removed with a vacuum cleaner.
- Stain removers. There are universal products, but it is better to choose one that is suitable for your type of carpet. However, they are limited in the area of use - you should not apply it to the entire carpet, only to the contaminated area.
Do you use household chemicals to clean carpets?
Not really
How can you clean a very dirty and old carpet, depending on the coating?
When removing stubborn dirt, it is worth considering the color and type of pile. This information will help you choose the right effective and gentle remedy.
Pile type
For long-haired hair, use a soap solution with good foam . It is applied only with a soft cloth. Hard brushes and sponges can ruin the appearance of the product. The most serious stains are additionally treated with a steam cleaner; it is also recommended to purchase special equipment.
There are much fewer problems with short pile. Heavily soiled carpets are cleaned with dry and liquid products. Folk recipes will not harm him either. This type of carpet dries quickly and accumulates less dust.
Color
For dark carpets it is not recommended to use starch, soda or powder. They leave behind ugly stains.
It's better to take:
- vinegar,
- turpentine,
- ammonia.
It is safer to clean white carpets with special products; you can also use :
- soda,
- salt,
- laundry soap.
But lemon juice will leave yellow marks.
Material: viscose, silk, synthetic
Before treating the carpet with any means, look at the label. Natural materials (wool or viscose) require careful handling.
From available means, it is best to use starch or soda; it is also worth purchasing high-quality chemicals for carpets.
Synthetic carpets are easier to care for. It is enough to vacuum them regularly. Stains must be removed while they are fresh, using any convenient means. This way there will be no unnecessary hassle with the carpet. It is better to dry clean silk carpets .
Read more about how to clean wool carpets in this article.
Important Tips
- For cleaning, it is better to use a broom of medium elasticity or a vacuum cleaner with soft brushes and additional attachments.
- When purchasing a new carpet product, test its reaction on a small area of the carpet. To do this, take a piece of white cloth, apply liquid on it and apply it to the carpet (in a place that is hidden from human sight). If the fabric is slightly stained, this product is not suitable for the product.
- When cleaning, make sure that the base of the carpet does not get wet.
- For deep cleaning, use foaming products and cleaning machines that gently remove dirt without deforming the product.
- Any stains that appear must be removed immediately. Do not listen to manufacturers who say that their product will help remove even old stains.
A rug is a piece of decor that constantly catches your eye when you walk into your home or sit in a room with friends. It is very important to maintain its neat and pleasant appearance. Plus, it's not difficult. The main thing is to choose the right method and means of cleansing.
