3 Tips For Cleaning Spills Off Your Carpet
Spills on the carpet are a normal part of home ownership. Even if you are vigilant about keeping food in the kitchen, accidents happen which is why it is important to understand how to care for your carpets in the case of a spill. Here are a couple things you should know so that you can keep your carpets looking great and prevent them from becoming permanently damaged from spills.
1. Always Dab The Area, Never Rub
When you wash a stain from the carpet you might be tempted to rub the area to try and get the liquid out. This is a very bad choice. When you rub it will only make the stain set deeper and more permanently into the fibers. Instead, you should always dab the area.
When you do this, use a clean cloth and begin pressing down on the area. With each press you will see the stain transfer from the carpet to the towel. This is why you should rotate the towel with each dab so that you don't transfer the liquid on the towel back onto the carpet. This is the best and safest way to remove a stain from the carpet with a towel.
2. Know What Temperature Of Water You Should Use
Another important thing is knowing what kind of temperature you should use to clean a spill. The nature of the liquid will determine how you clean it. For example, if you have blood on the carpet you need to use cold water to clean it. Warm water will cause the blood to set more permanently into the carpet, so you should never use warm water to clean blood. Conversely, a milk based spill should always be cleaned with warm water and never cold. The warm water will keep the milk from setting and will be the best way to safely clean it. Thus, temperature plays an important role in your cleaning.
3. Keep The Stain Moist
If possible, you should try to clean up a spill immediately after it happens. But if for some reason you can't get to the spill right away, keep the area moist. Take a towel and soak it in water then lay the towel over the spill. This will prevent the liquid from drying into the carpet, making it much harder to remove.
By understanding how to care for your spills you can keep your carpets looking great. Contact a local cleaning service, like A-1 Maid Service Inc, if you need more help in keeping your home clean.