preparing your house for professional cleaners

Do you need new carpet but it's not in the budget right now? Does your carpet have stains and smells that you just can't seem to get rid of? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you're going to love the following suggestions. These simple tips will help you get rid of the problem areas in your carpeting.

Carpet Odor Treatment

There's nothing worse than laying on your carpet and smelling foul odors. Don't spend your money on costly carpet fresheners that only last for a few hours. Try these easy tricks to get your carpet smelling fresh again.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are natural odor neutralizers. Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball. Drop the cotton ball in your vacuum bag or dust compartment and vacuum your carpet as usual. The oils will be released as you vacuum your carpeting, leaving your room and your carpet smelling clean and fresh.

Borax

Pets can leave the carpet smelling especially foul. Borax will get rid of those odors for you. Sprinkle borax on your carpeting and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Vacuum your floor as usual. An added benefit of using borax as a carpet freshener is that it also kills the fleas that your pets might have carried in.

Simple Stain Remover

If you've got a few stains that you need to get rid of, this simple stain remover will do the trick. It's especially useful on non-greasy stains like red juice or pet stains.

Supplies You'll Need

• Small bowl

• Warm water

• Dish detergent

• Baking soda

• Sponge

Directions

1. Place 1 cup of water in a small bowl.

2. Add ¾ teaspoon of dish detergent and 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the water.

3. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain.

4. Pour a small amount of the liquid onto the baking soda.

5. Work the solution into a soft paste and allow it to sit on the stain for about 5 minutes.

6. Gently dab at the stain with a damp sponge.

7. Repeat the process on stubborn stains.

Tear Repairs

There's no need to replace your carpet just because you have a few small tears. Most small tears can be easily repaired using a few items.

Supplies You'll Need

• Two-sided tape

• Upholstery needle

• Thread to match the color of your carpet

Directions

1. Lift the two sides of the tear and carefully place a piece of two-sided tape underneath.

2. Press down firmly on the carpet to secure it to the tape.

3. Use a needle and thread to sew the two sides of the tear together.

4. Repeat the process on all your small carpet tears.

If you need new carpeting but it's not in the budget right now, you can always fix the minor problems. Use the simple steps outlined above to get rid of odors, stains and small tears.