| If you have a carpet and prefer to clean it yourself | | | | too soft nor too firm and scrub the carpet all over or |
| rather than have an expensive commercial service do | | | | until clean. Then sponge it gently all over until no soap |
| it for you, then here are some of the best carpet | | | | suds remain; dry with clean cloth; and dry in a |
| cleaning methods available to you. | | | | well-ventilated place. |
| Firstly, you could head to the store and pick up some | | | | But just so you don't have to clean your carpet too |
| of the carpet cleaning products sold there. There is a | | | | often, try these tips to help it stay cleaner longer. |
| very wide range of products available, many of which | | | | Place doormats at all your entrances and request |
| can help you with specific cleaning needs such as | | | | everyone to wipe their footwear on them before |
| stain or spot removal, odor removal, and so on and | | | | they enter the house. Also ask them to take off |
| so forth. You will just have to choose from these | | | | their shoes upon entry to prevent outside dirt from |
| products based on whether they can help you with | | | | entering the house. It may be best to encourage |
| your specific kind or model of carpet and other | | | | people to use house slippers and swap them for |
| considerations such as brand, price, and environmental | | | | outside footgear if and when they exit the house, |
| impact. | | | | even just to go outside. If it's convenient, vacuum |
| But do-it-yourselfers don't have to feel constrained | | | | your carpet at least twice a week to pick up |
| to buy up and use commercial products. You can | | | | whatever dirt may accumulate on it. If anyone in |
| easily make use of some common household | | | | your family is asthmatic, this will help as well, and will |
| substances and materials to clean your carpet. For | | | | also help cut down on dust mites too. |
| example, you can use a combination of mild liquid | | | | If your carpet is stained or stinks, here are some |
| dishwashing fluid and lukewarm water to easily and | | | | Best carpet cleaning methods that use some |
| quickly clean carpets. Combine ½ teaspoon of | | | | household ingredients to get the stain or smell out. |
| this detergent and 1 cup of warm water and mix. | | | | Apply a cup of warm water and half a teaspoon of |
| When the solution is ready, test it on an | | | | gentle liquid soap to stains and blot the stain out - |
| inconspicuous area - if it discolors, then you will have | | | | don't scrub. Red wine stains can be removed |
| to try something else. If not, combine around | | | | successfully with club soda, and grease with baking |
| ½ cup of this detergent and 2 gallons of warm | | | | soda or cornmeal. And a solution of 1 cup white |
| water - feel free to increase or decrease the | | | | vinegar and 1 ½ cup warm water can also help |
| quantity as per your needs. Use a sponge or spray | | | | get rid of stains. Lastly, baking soda, as always, is |
| bottle to apply the solution on the carpet without | | | | fantastic at eliminating odors - just sprinkle a box |
| saturating it. Pick up a scrubbing brush that is neither | | | | over the carpet and vacuum it away after an hour. |