-
If you have light carpet, you might want to invest in a shampooer or other heavy-duty cleaner. If you have darker carpet, renting a powerful cleaner from a grocery store may be an option for yearly cleanings. Houses that have pets and light carpet find that they need to clean more frequently, since the pet is tracking in dirt and debris from outside. Pets also tend to add an odor to the carpet, either from potty-training accidents or simply rolling around, leaving dirt, fur and dander behind.
Many carpet shampooing devices use water in the form of steam to remove darkened stains. While using a steam cleaner to remove stains from the carpet may be effective, properly drying out the carpet by increasing ventilation throughout the room either by fans or open windows is necessary to prevent mildew from forming in the carpet padding.
Dry carpet cleaning is an alternative method to cleaning carpet. Dry carpet cleaning uses trace amounts of moisture and is used for specific areas of cleaning. There is no residue left behind, as there is with soap-based cleaners, which tend to act as a magnets to attract debris and dirt particles to a newly cleaned area. -
Professional quality carpet cleaning solutions contain chemicals and enzymes to break down dirt from deep within the carpet. Good-quality cleaners may be found in retail or home improvement stores. Industrial-strength equipment and chemicals should be used by professionals to reduce the risk of ruining your carpet or padding.
Try adding rugs in high-traffic areas, such as a hallway or around sitting areas, to protect your carpet.
