First step: determine the type and specs of your carpet before applying any kind of detergent or a treatment. You may know very well the types of the carpets in your home, but another extra checking for a confirmation is always useful. This is quite an important step if you have to spot clean numerous small carpets, each with its own unique fibers, colored patterns and degree of staining. Make sure to know exactly the types of the fibers, because some natural carpets with natural fibers can be cleaned only with special detergents. Vintage and small Oriental rugs have very sensitive fibers too. Carpets with super long fibers make no exception. A great tip is to do this step while inspecting the stains of the carpets. Get yourself a list and note all the carpets and rugs in your house, which need spot cleaning. Make three different columns with three different levels of staining – such as light, medium and very soiled spots. This will help remember the condition of all the carpets, as well as determine the right detergents and cleaning methods for the different carpet types.
Second step: choose the right cleaning method for the specific stains. This means that you should know exactly what you`re looking for before going in the store for detergents, brushes, sponges, etc. The perfect detergent doesn`t always mean the most expensive one, neither the strongest one. It should be just perfect for the type of the carpet and strong enough to help you get rid of the dirty spots. The lightest and smallest spots can even be treated with homemade detergents. Not to mention that you can mix numerous detergents that are probably located already in your home, such as dish detergent, powder laundry detergent, shampoo or a liquid soap. A combination of these detergents can give you a perfect homemade detergent for carpet cleaning and for dealing with persistent spots of coffee, tea, ketchup or dried greasy spots. The commercial and strong detergents are needed when you have to deal with old spots that may cause the spread of unhealthy bacteria, pollens and other microorganisms. The commercial and strong detergents are also recommended for the removal of pet odors, color and texture restoration, and for other specific cases, so, always read the labels on the detergents and the specific ways for application.
Third step: start by soaking up the stains with water. Try to apply the water only onto the stain. The smaller the wet area, the easier the treatment, then apply the detergent. Apply the ready commercial detergent directly onto the spot or make your own concoction first. Let it sit overnight or as long as required, according to the degree of staining, of the strength of the detergent and of the recommendations on the label.
Fourth step: on the next morning or at the end of the day – wipe off the excess of the dislodged dirt and repeat the procedure if needed. Apply a sanitizing agent or a deodorizing agent when it comes to stains from kitchen grease, pets or other persistent dirt.
Fifth step: go through all the spots with the vacuum cleaning machine only when the spots are completely or almost completely dry. This is the easy way to restore the fluffiness of the fibers and to make the carpets look like new. Apply a protective spray for carpets, which adds an invisible layer of protection. Rotate the carpets regularly to reduce the chance of getting most of the dirty spots onto the same area again.