Tip Sheet

From the desk of: Brian Flaherty

Here are some simple ways for you to clean up spots with items found in your cupboard or pantry.  If you can get to the accident right away, these helpful tips will help you preserve your carpet in between cleanings.

1. For a spill- You can make a thin runny batch of cornstarch and water (like making gravy) and apply it to the spill.  The cornstarch will act as an absorbent and pull the spill to the surface. Once dried, brush or break it loose, vacuum and the spill will be gone.
2. For a pet accident- Apply white vinegar (undiluted) to a white terry towel. Fold the towel into fours.  Then apply pressure (usually with your foot) to the spot to absorb the urine. Turn the towel once each side is full.  The white vinegar is a great odor neutralizer and will dry up the urine salts. Use this method until nothing else is released in to the towel. Use a second towel if needed.  Once the spot is dried, if stain is still there, you can apply hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and mist the stain. Work it into the fibers and cover it with a clear piece of plastic (sandwich bag works best), this will start the oxidation process. Make sure that you mist the spot and not pour the peroxide on it, for it could take the color out. This process can take up to three to eight hours to work.
3. Salt is an excellent absorber for blood. Pour the salt directly onto the blood it should pull the blood to the surface. Vacuum once dried.
4. You can remove wax once dried by using a towel that is damp with water. Take an iron on steam setting and apply the damp towel directly on top of the wax. The wax will break down back to liquid form and absorb into the towel. Keep moving the towel and iron so the wax has somewhere to go.
5. Warm water and a white towel works really well too, make sure to blot up any excess first.  Move the towel in circular motions to make sure the spot or stain doesn’t spread.
6. Vacuuming the carpet in different directions will help tremendously, considering 78% of the soil in your carpet is dry.  Vacuuming the carpet at least once a week is vital in maintaining the maximum life that you should get out of it.  The most valuable thing to replace in your home is your flooring.  You should have the carpet cleaned at least once a year to remove the greasy oils that attach to the carpet fibers.  Once they have become matted down, there is a barrier of dirt trapped underneath. Walking on your carpet every day, has the same effect as scrubbing it with sandpaper. This will cause your carpet to wear down the padding, therefore, losing the life expectancy that you should get out of it.