- About 80 percent of the soil that enters the house is dry. Regular weekly vacuuming will help to lift this soil from the carpet before it has a chance to embed into the carpet's pile. To vacuum a room, divide it into sections, and pass your vacuum cleaner over each section multiple times. Change the direction that you are vacuuming and work slowly to give your vacuum time to pick up soil. Pay extra attention to the heavy traffic areas and in front of chairs. You should also use the vacuum cleaner's attachments to clean the baseboards and crannies. To fight odors and freshen the room, add baking soda to the vacuum bag.
- The remaining 20 percent of the soiling agents that need to be cleaned from our carpet consist of oils and starches. While simple vacuuming takes care of most of this type of soiling, deep cleaning removes the oils, starches and the most stubborn dry soil. Two options are available for deep cleaning: Have the carpet professionally steam cleaned or clean it yourself with a deep cleaning machine. For a do-it-yourself organic cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar.
- Spot-cleaning stains in your home is a good way to keep your rug cleaner between deep cleaning sessions. Although club soda is famous for being a great spot remover, there are many other safe alternatives for cleaning a home without chemical cleaners. These include natural substances such as baking soda, borax, lemon juice and salt, white vinegar, or corn starch. Baking soda, Borax or corn starch are great for cleaning up oily spills. Simply sprinkle them over the stain, and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Then vacuum up. A combination of baking soda and vinegar is a great remedy for removing stains caused by fatty substances. The two combined will change the fatty compound into soap and glycerin. Lemon Juice and Salt when mixed together make a safe alternative to bleach for stubborn stains. Combine the two and let them sit on a stain for about 15 minutes before absorbing with a towel.
- Never try to dry a stain with a hair dryer or iron. The heat can cause the stain to set in. For most stains, soaking with water and then covering with a towel to let the towel absorb the stain is enough. Don't rub the stain. This will ground the soil in deeper and cause wear to the carpet fibers.
