Info-Authority: Carpet Cleaning Equipment

Though a carpet is preferable to a bare floor for keeping a home clean, carpets themselves require a fair degree of maintenance and are especially susceptible to stains. Fortunately, most carpets do not require the use of complicated procedures to be properly cleaned, and many knowledgeable cleaners maintain that only simple equipment is required to keep one's carpet relatively spotless and dust-free.

Removing Carpet Stains

For most stains the only items needed are common household products and cleansing solutions. Ammonia works well as a multiple-purpose cleanser. For general food stains, a dab of shaving cream or brake cleaner (applied in small doses to a paper towel) is often highly effective. One should blot and not scrub, letting the stain sit for several minutes, then rinse it with vinegar and water. For greasy spots that have settled into the carpet, one can use rubbing alcohol, dishwashing detergent, and hydrogen peroxide as needed—each is progressively more powerful than the last. Club soda can be useful for removing stains from red wine, or indeed any other reddish-colored spill. A non-housetrained puppy can be cleaned with a combination of peroxide and baking soda, which will help take care of both the stain and the smell; the carpet should then be rinsed with vinegar. In the case of sticky material such as gum or wax becoming physically enmeshed in the carpet, the best solution is usually not a cleanser, but rather to simply freeze the offending substance and attempt to chip it off.

Should a stain prove entirely resistant to all these methods, one can resort to use of a heavy-duty cleanser such as De-Solv-It, commonly available from janitorial suppliers. Such cleansers use natural organic-based solvents and are extremely powerful.

Household Cleaning Agents

One common household appliance which can be of use for treating carpets is an iron. By carefully exposing the carpet to the steam from a heated iron—without allowing the iron itself to touch the fibers—one may melt away substances such as wax or restore depressions left in the carpet by years of furniture pressure.

Deep Cleaning Vacuums

For general maintenance, carpets should be vacuumed one a week, and a “deep cleaning” is recommended for most carpets yearly. Machines designed for deep cleaning come in two varieties: dry and wet. Liquid cleansers and carpet shampooers can be very effective at dissolving grime and dirt but have the unfortunate tendency to leave behind a large amount of soap residue. This residue can have the effect of attracting additional dirt, leaving one with a dirtier carpet than before. Moreover, spots can turn invisible when wet but “wick” back into place once the carpet dries. For this reason, dry cleaners, which release small, carefully-balanced blends of cleaning chemicals, are usually preferred by non-professionals.

By Matthew Ingalls




	Carpet Cleaning Equipment Though a carpet is preferable to a bare floor for keeping a home clean, carpets themselves require a fair degree of maintenance and are especially susceptible to stains. Fortunately, most carpets do not require the use of complicated procedures to be properly cleaned, and many knowledgeable cleaners maintain that only simple equipment is required to keep one's carpet relatively spotless and dust-free. Removing Carpet Stains For most stains the only items needed are common household products and cleansing solutions. Ammonia works well as a multiple-purpose cleanser. For general food stains, a dab of shaving cream or brake cleaner (applied in small doses to a paper towel) is often highly effective. One should blot and not scrub, letting the stain sit for several minutes, then rinse it with vinegar and water. For greasy spots that have settled into the carpet, one can use rubbing alcohol, dishwashing detergent, and hydrogen peroxide as needed—each is progressively more powerful than the last. Club soda can be useful for removing stains from red wine, or indeed any other reddish-colored spill. A non-housetrained puppy can be cleaned with a combination of peroxide and baking soda, which will help take care of both the stain and the smell; the carpet should then be rinsed with vinegar. In the case of sticky material such as gum or wax becoming physically enmeshed in the carpet, the best solution is usually not a cleanser, but rather to simply freeze the offending substance and attempt to chip it off. Should a stain prove entirely resistant to all these methods, one can resort to use of a heavy-duty cleanser such as De-Solv-It, commonly available from janitorial suppliers. Such cleansers use natural organic-based solvents and are extremely powerful. Household Cleaning Agents One common household appliance which can be of use for treating carpets is an iron. By carefully exposing the carpet to the steam from a heated iron—without allowing the iron itself to touch the fibers—one may melt away substances such as wax or restore depressions left in the carpet by years of furniture pressure. Deep Cleaning Vacuums For general maintenance, carpets should be vacuumed one a week, and a “deep cleaning” is recommended for most carpets yearly. Machines designed for deep cleaning come in two varieties: dry and wet. Liquid cleansers and carpet shampooers can be very effective at dissolving grime and dirt but have the unfortunate tendency to leave behind a large amount of soap residue. This residue can have the effect of attracting additional dirt, leaving one with a dirtier carpet than before. Moreover, spots can turn invisible when wet but “wick” back into place once the carpet dries. For this reason, dry cleaners, which release small, carefully-balanced blends of cleaning chemicals, are usually preferred by non-professionals. By Matthew Ingalls Related Links: Floor Carpet Cleaning Tips Tips on carpet cleaning and proper use of carpet-cleaning equipment.