Three Carpet Cleaning Tips - How to Get Rid of Carpet Odors, Avoid Carpet Dents and Clean Carpet Stains

Carpet stains, carpet odor, and carpet dents seem to be the three most common problems with keeping carpets looking and smelling clean and new. If you experience these problems with your rug, take heart. There are a few simple things you can do to eliminate and prevent carpet odors, stains, and dents.

It never fails, and you've been steaming your rug all morning, checking your carpet over and over, trying to remove any grime that's been ground up. Finally, you step back and find that the carpet looks clean again—at least as clean as possible. Suddenly, the door opens, and your children hurry, following the dog. The children walked halfway across the freshly cleaned carpet, leaving dirty footprints before kicking off their shoes and leaving their backpacks in the middle of the room. The dog flopped to the ground, rolling merrily to and fro, dawdling in the dirt, spreading its hair all over the place. You watch in horror and, honestly, disgust their lack of civility, because now your rug is starting to look like a battlefield.

Try these three carpet cleaning tips:

Carpet Cleaning Tip #1 - How to Remove Carpet Stains

The sooner a stain is detected, the better the cleaning. The biggest problem with stains is that they can soak into your carpet and become an almost permanent fixture. To remove the stain while it's wet, immediately dab the spill or stain with a dry sponge or fleece. Do not rub the stain, as this will allow the spilled material to enter further into the carpet, making it more difficult to remove.

If dabbing the stain doesn't remove the stain, try water and a sponge or wool cloth. Again, try dabbing the spot rather than rubbing it deep into the carpet. If you need to work hard to remove the stain, try moving the cloth in a circular motion. As a last resort, add a small amount of carpet soap to the water and dab the carpet.

Carpet Cleaning Tip #2 - How to Get Rid of Carpet Odors

Carpet smells come from many sources. Odors come from spilled food and drink, animal accidents, and substances dragged onto shoes and dirty feet. One of the best ways to get rid of carpet odors is to take the carpet outdoors, clean it with a mild cleaner, and dry it thoroughly in the sun.

While this solution is great for area rugs and removable rugs, it obviously won't work if your rug is permanently installed. Carpet odors from permanently installed carpets can be removed in the same way – use a mild cleaner and then gently rub it into the carpet. Instead of drying your carpet in the sun, you can help your carpet dry quickly and thoroughly by using an indoor fan pointed directly at the problem area. Remember - if you use too much water when cleaning your carpet, the water will seep into the carpet pads and create an unpleasant odor. When it comes to removing carpet odors, it's better to choose too little water than too much.

If all else fails, you can always use a powder or liquid carpet freshener or deodorant spray. While this won't permanently remove the odor, it may reduce the odor to the point where you're comfortable in the room.

Carpet Cleaning Tip #3 - How to Remove Carpet Dents

Carpet dents, those unsightly impressions left on the rug when you move the couch or rearrange bedroom furniture can be healed - but it takes some elbow grease and time. One of the best ways to remove dents from carpet is to use a stiff brush. Use the brush to brush the carpet in a circular motion, pulling the carpet fibers back into a standing position. If the dents are very severe, you can use the steam of a steam iron and a brush to straighten the carpet fibers. Instead of placing the iron directly on the carpet, let the steam wet the carpet as you brush it.

Use these tips to remove carpet stains, remove carpet odors, and wipe away carpet dents, and you'll once again have a carpet that looks, feels, and smells nearly as good as new.