Although wood flooring is trending in home decorating; most people have some type of carpeting in their homes. Carpeting adds to the comfort and to the décor of rooms, but it can lose its charm quickly when it becomes dirty and stained. Dirty carpeting can really aggravate allergies. For years, home owners used chemical products that sprayed on, shook on or were brushed in to clean spots and called in professional carpet cleaners using chemicals to clean entire rooms. Today, consumers are mindful of the ecology and want to clean their carpets in earth-friendly ways.
Most carpets need regular spot cleaning due to things like pets and spilled foods. There are some natural commercial cleaners on the market, such as Begley’s Household Stain and Odor Remover. The product was invented by actor Ed Begley Junior, who is also an environmentalist. Martha Stewart has her own cleaner (Martha Stewart Carpet Stain Remover) as well. Both of these products are plant-or—mineral based and safe to use around children and pets.
If you are frugal as well as “green-minded,” you can make your own spot cleaning products. Baking soda is an excellent all-purpose cleaner that works on everything from teeth to laundry. In the simplest use for carpet cleaning, you merely shake it onto the carpet, wait for about thirty minutes and vacuum it up. If you want to add a scent to your rooms, you can add an essential oil such as lavender. For more difficult stains, you can mix two cups of baking soda with a half-cup of cornstarch and sprinkle the cleaner on the carpet. After it sits for thirty minutes you need to vacuum it well. Really tough stains can be addressed with a paste of the baking soda and a plant-based soap that you brush into the stain. After removing the stain, the area has to be rinsed well and allowed to dry completely. When moisture settles into the carpet pad and does not get a chance to dry, it allows mold and germs to grow. Mold destroys not only the carpet and pad, but sometimes necessitates stripping the underfloor.
Another natural spot cleaner is made with one part water to one part white vinegar. This is applied with a spray bottle and allowed to sit for a few minutes before it is rinsed with water. The vinegar-based cleaners are especially effective on coffee or wine stains.
All of these measures are for spot cleaning. They help keep your home looking and smelling fresh. There are some cautions, mainly in the application of the natural products. It is vital that home owners vacuum well to remove the dry products and dirt and that they provide ventilation so that carpets can dry after using liquid products. Although you can make your own large-area cleaner, thorough cleansing depends upon getting the cleaners deep into the carpets and pulling out as much residue and moisture as possible. For this, you usually need a “green” professional carpet cleaner. These people use natural products with their powerful machinery to deep clean your carpets. For environmentally-friendly carpet cleaning new York City residents call on companies such as Green Choice Carpet Cleaners. Together with your consistent treating of spots with natural products, regular cleaning by “green” professionals will keep your home beautiful and healthy.
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