H Mag - The Handy Mag for Home, Hardware and Home DIY Jun. 2014 | Page 32

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CarpetCleaning
S ecret s
By Brett Martin

Blot Stains, Don't Rub Them
Dab stains with a cleaning solution and a clean cloth, paper
towels, or a sponge. The key is blotting. Blotting puts a small
amount of pressure on the stain to soak it up. Rubbing causes
the particles to get ground into the carpet fibers, and this can
lead to the premature breakdown of those fibers. Always blot
from the outside of the stain inward, as blotting outward can
spread the stain.

Once the stain is gone, rinse the spot with warm water. Use
your hand to brush the carpet strands into their natural
direction. Finally, lay white paper towels over the area and
weigh them down with something heavy, like a phone book.
The towels will absorb the dampness from the carpet. Leave
the towels in place until the carpet is dry, usually about one
day.

Try Shaving Cream

Freeze-Dried Gum

The best carpet cleaner for general stains is ordinary shaving
cream. It will remove just about every type of stain. Apply the
shaving cream directly to the stain and let it set for about 30
minutes. Once the shaving cream has set, blot it away with
a dry white cloth. Finish by spraying the area with one part
vinegar mixed with one part water and then wiping away the
solution with a cloth.

The Club Soda Process
You may have heard that club soda is effective against beer
and wine stains. It’s true—if you use it correctly.
Blot the area with the soda on a cloth. If that doesn’t work,
mix one part white vinegar with one part water and pour
it into a handheld sprayer. Spray the solution on the entire
stained area and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to soak in.
Then press a clean sponge onto the area to soak up the
solution and the stain. You may have to repeat this process to
eradicate the stain.

You step in chewing gum out on the street but don’t realise it
until you tracked that gross, sticky mess onto your carpet. To
get it out, head to the freezer and grab a couple of ice cubes.
Freeze the gum with ice cubes for about 30 seconds. Once
the gum is frozen solid, use a spoon to lift up the glob and
cut the strands of carpet as close to the gum as possible. If
you cut only a small amount of carpet, the spot shouldn’t be
noticeable.

Dishwasher Detergent vs Grease

The best method against difficult-to-clean grease stains is to
use a drop or two of a grease-cutting dishwashing detergent,
such as Joy, in a cup of water. It’ll cut through the grease
in the carpet just the way it does on your dishes. Put the
solution in a spray bottle and spray it on the stain. Then blot
it up. Again, you may need to do this multiple times for larger
stains.

Heat Wax
Burning candles in the house can result in wax dripping