Cleaning tips for your carpet

An accident can easily happen, even on carpets.

It is bound to happen that one accidentally spills or drops something sticky on a carpet. The important thing to do then, is to deal with the stain or the spillage immediately. If not action is taken, the stain will penetrate into the carpet and make it harder to be removed.

Below are some tips on what you should do if an accident should occur.

10 things to keep in mind if an accident occurs:

  1. Deal with the stain immediately.

  2. Ladle fluids carefully with a spoon.

  3. Dilute with cold water if necessary.

  4. Dab away - do not rub - fluids and other spillage with paper towels or a clean cotton cloth.

  5. Work from the edge towards the middle of the spillage.

  6. Use a very small amount of detergent and cold water, but only if necessary.

  7. Brush lightly with a clothes brush if needed.

  8. Repeat from step 2 if necessary.

  9. It might be necessary to dry the wet area with a fan or a hair drier at low speed.

  10. Finish the work by restoring the pile with a clothes brush (in the direction of the pile).
CarpetVista Stain Remover - effective on your stains.

If you want to be on the safe side, it is a good idea to have a gentle and powerful stain remover at home.By acting quickly you increase the chance ofsaving your carpet and completely removing the stain without having to take it to a carpet cleaner.Keep in mind that a stain remover should be gentle on fabrics so as to not damage the fibers.

→ Example of a suitable stain remover can be found here.

Some examples of common stains and how to remove them:

Asphalt: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild solvent and dab it gently. Repeat until the stain is gone. Dab/wipe it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Beer: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. Add a little mild detergent and dab gently. If the stain remains, try a mild vinegar solution and dab again. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Blood: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. Dilute any remaining stain with tepid water and absorb the remaining stain. Add a little tepid water and washing-up liquid to a cloth and dab gently. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry. NOTE! If the blood is still fresh, use cold water.

Burn mark: Examine the burn to see how deep it is, it may be possible to carefully trim away the burnt section of the carpet's pile with nail scissors.

Candlewax: Lay ice cubes on the wax until it hardens enough for you to be able to break it. Then use a stain remover if required to remove any remaining traces of the wax.

Chewinggum: Lay ice cubes on the chewing gum until it hardens enough for you to be able to break it. Then use a stain remover if required to remove any remaining traces of the chewing gum.

Chocolate: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Coca-Cola: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again, follow up with a mild vinegar solution if the stain has not been removed. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Coffee: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again. Repeat until the stain is gone. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Cookingfat: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Glue: Wet the entire stain with a colourless cotton cloth soaked in vinegar or alcohol. Then carefully dab and dry.

Grease: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. If the stain remains, try a mild vinegar solution and dab again. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Ice-cream: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. If the stain remains, try dampening a colourless cotton cloth with a mild ammonia solution and dab again, follow up with a mild vinegar solution if the stain has not been removed. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Ink: Coat the stain in hairspray and leave it to dry, then carefully brush the stain away with a solution of water and vinegar.

Juice: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again, follow up with a mild vinegar solution if the stain has not been removed. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Ketchup: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab agoved. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Lipstick: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. If the stain remains, try dampening a colourless cotton cloth with a mild ammonia solution and dab again, follow up with a mild vinegar solution if the stain has not been removed. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Liquor: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Milk: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Mustard: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Nailvarnish: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Use a colourless cotton cloth and carefully dab with a little nail varnish remover. If the stain remains, add a little detergent, dab gently and follow up with a mild ammonia solution and then a mild vinegar solution if the stain has not been removed. ##Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Oil: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Paint: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again, follow up with a mild vinegar solution if the stain has not been removed. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Shoe polish: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again, follow up with a mild vinegar solution if the stain has not been removed. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Soft drinks: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. If the stain remains, try a mild ammonia solution and dab again, follow up with a mild vinegar solution if the stain has not been removed. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Soot: Carefully vacuum up the soot and avoid dragging the nozzle across the carpet.

Tea: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. If the stain remains, try a mild vinegar solution and dab gently. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Urine/excrement: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth, alternatively carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Then rinse the stain with a mix of water and distilled white vinegar, approx. one tablespoon per 20 cl water. Then carefully wipe off as much as possible from the carpet. If the urine stain is dry when you discover it, still act fast, and take the carpet to a carpet cleaner specialising in oriental carpets. NOTE! Do not use urine remover as this damages the wool in the carpet.

Vomit: Carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Dampen a colourless cotton cloth with a mild detergent and dab it gently. If the stain remains, try a mild vinegar solution and dab again. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Wax: Lay blotting paper or a brown paper bag on the stain. Use a warm iron across the blotting paper/paper bag until the wax is absorbed. It is important that you keep the iron moving to avoid burning the carpet.

Wine: Absorb as much of the stain as possible with colourless kitchen paper or a colourless cotton cloth. If the stain remains, try a mild vinegar solution and dab gently. Dab it with a dry cloth until it is dry.

NOTE!

• Carry out the above methods at your own risk. If you prefer to be on the safe side, contact a professional carpet cleaner immediately.

• Always use the right detergent for the carpet's material.

• It's a good idea to test the detergent on an inconspicuous area of the carpet first.

• Don't forget to dry the back of the carpet.

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