Spot Cleaning: Carpet Dos and Don'ts
Cleaning carpet stains can be a tricky task. Muddy footprints, spilt drinks and ink stains are all parts of a busy household, and it's important to treat your carpet with care. Here are our key pointers for spot cleaning carpet successfully.
Do: Act fast
Spillages are much more likely to do permanent damage if they are left. To prevent discolouration through bleaching or dyeing, treat stains as soon as you can. The fresher the mess, the easier the clean!
Don't: Scrub
When faced with a stubborn stain, your instinct might be to scrub your carpet. It's important that you ignore this instinct – it can damage your carpet and actually make the stain harder to clean. You might even find that scrubbing spreads the stain, giving you a tougher job later.
Do: Blot
Blotting is the best method to spot clean carpet. By gently dabbing the area in circular motions, you begin to rub away the stain without driving it further into the carpet. You are also less likely to flatten the fibres of your carpet.
Don't: Drench your carpet
While water is helpful to the carpet cleaning process, it should be used in moderation. A saturated carpet takes a long time to dry, which can open the door to mould. Instead, apply any water gradually and ventilate the room as much as possible. If your carpet can be hung up outside, as with a rug, that gives it the best chance of drying.
Do: Patch test
A substance that works well on one carpet may ruin another. Carrying out a patch test on a hidden area of carpet is the best way to avoid damage. While it may take a bit longer, it can save you from causing accidental harm when spot cleaning carpet.
Don't: Steam clean yourself
Hiring a steam cleaner (also known as a wet extraction cleaner) yourself is often recommended as a cheap way to handle a dirty carpet. However, it's difficult to properly dry your carpet afterwards without the right equipment and techniques. This can lead to damp carpet, mould and nasty smells.
Do: Scrape away excess
Regardless of the cleaning method you choose, it's always worth trying to manually remove as much as possible. Solid substances like wax, dry nail polish and many foods can be scraped away with a blunt tool like a spoon or spatula. However, ensure that you act gently to avoid damaging your carpet fibres.
Don't: Bleach your carpet
Bleach is a very strong cleaning chemical, and can tackle most stains. However, it also leaves permanent stains of its own. Spot cleaning carpet with bleach is not advised – it's best to leave harsh chemicals to the professionals.
Do: Hire a professional carpet cleaner
Carpet cleaners are experts at spot cleaning carpets, so they're the best people to call for carpet stains. The National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA) directory is full of experienced cleaners all over the UK.
To find one, all you need to do is enter your postcode and we'll show you carpet cleaners in your area. Each carpet cleaner is accredited and insured for the best possible customer experience.
