preparing your house for professional cleaners

There are a variety of natural products that can help you clean and maintain your carpets without help from a professional. These products are common household items and you may keep many of them on hand already. Knowing how to use these products to keep your carpet clean will help ensure that your carpet is well maintained and looks its best:

Rags

Used to blot stains, clean, white cotton rags are a must-have for any carpet owner. Keep a stack of several rags on hand at all times to help with stain removal and treatment. This is important because a rag that has fully absorbed liquid from the stain may become ineffective, and can start transferring liquid back to the carpet, spreading or exacerbating the stain. With multiple clean rags in your home, you'll have the tools you need to effectively blot stains.  

Vinegar

Mixed with equal parts water, vinegar is a powerful stain-cleaning agent. Vinegar can be used on natural or synthetic fibers, and is effective on a variety of stain types--everything from food and beverages to mud and paint. To use vinegar on a stain, spray a solution of vinegar and water on the stain after blotting the excess liquid from the carpet. Let the vinegar and water solution be absorbed by the carpet, then blot the stain again with a clean rag. 

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that can absorb smells from your carpet fibers just like it absorbs smells from your refrigerator. Baking soda can be used to treat and remove normal smells found in the carpet like cigarette smoke, fireplace smoke, food, pet odors and others.

Baking soda is helpful for deodorizing carpet stains with a lingering odor, or can be used to deodorize the entire home. The process is simple: sprinkle baking soda over the area that needs to be deodorized and leave it to sit overnight. In the morning, use a vacuum to remove the baking soda. To keep the carpet throughout your home smelling fresh, deodorize your carpet a couple times a year, or as needed. 

Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is a natural product commonly found in beauty products, but it's also an effective cleaner. Use isopropyl alcohol to clean ink stains from your carpet. To use it, dip a clean rag in isopropyl alcohol and then use the rag to blot the stain. Never rub an ink stained carpet, as you may smear the ink. 

Of course, you'll probably still need help from professional carpet cleaning services from time to time. Next time a carpet cleaning technician comes to your home, speak with him or her to find out other ways that you can maintain your carpet with products found around the house. To learn more, contact a company like All Star Carpet Care & Restoration.