House of Maria

The guest post was contributed by Natural Mat

If looked after properly, a good quality carpet will last you for years. The floor is the most heavily used part of the house and wear and tear will show on the most expensive of carpets. Here are five tips that will help you to properly restore an old carpet.

5. Dents left by Furniture

If a carpet is not too old, then the pile will naturally reassert itself within a day or two. The process can be started by lightly spraying the dented area with water and lightly rubbing the fibres to encourage them to stand upright. Invest in some furniture cups in which furniture castors fit. These will protect your carpet from further dents.

4. Remove carpet stains

White vinegar can be used to remove a wide variety of carpet stains including wine, ketchup, tea and coffee, milk, juice and chocolate. To remove stains from synthetic carpets mix one part vinegar to two parts water to make an effective solution. To clean natural fibre carpets, mix vinegar and water in equal parts.

3. Removing Pet Stains and Odours

Soak up the urine as quickly and as much as possible. Use kitchen towel or newspaper – whatever you have to hand. Clean it thoroughly with water – damping it down and blotting it until the carpet is barely wet. You may wish to use a specialised cleaning product to ensure the smell has been removed. You can put the soiled newspaper and kitchen towel in the area that you wish your pet to use as a toilet to encourage them.

2. Removing Mud from a Carpet

Wait until the mud is dry before trying to clean it up. If there is a lot of mud, then loosen it with a soft brush first then vacuum over the spot where the mud has collected. This will pick up a great deal of the dirt. Then spray with a carpet spot cleaner and leave alone for a few minutes according to instructions. Blot with a white towel or tissues, lifting up as much of the stain as possible. Keep refolding the towel so that a clean piece is used to blot up the liquid each time. Using white wine vinegar will help to remove excess detergent. Finally use water to remove the smell of the vinegar.

1. Flattened Carpet Pile

Use a damp towel and an iron to encourage flattened carpet fibres to stand upright. Make sure that the iron is not too hot, or you will risk bleeding out the colour of the carpet. You can brush the area with a carpet brush to help the process.

Photo Credit: My Favourite Furry Carpet

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