keep yours carpet clean It’s a constant battle all year long, and even more so when you’re hosting during the holidays. Between holiday parties, melting candles, chocolate, and other holiday goodies, we use every carpet cleaning method we can find.
So we asked some professional cleaners for their favorite tricks for clean carpet—and we wish we knew them firsthand.
meet the expert
- james king Is the Operations Manager at DeluxeMaid.
- taylor riley Founder of Boom. Facility Services Consultant and Co-Founder of Impact Cleaning Professionals.
Use a fork to fluff the carpet
Over time, carpets naturally begin to look flat and lifeless, especially in high-traffic areas like living rooms, entryways, hallways, and stairs. But James King, operations manager at DeluxeMed, has a solution.
“Use a fork,” he says. “Yes, any regular old fork that you already have in your kitchen. Rub the prongs gently across the fibers to fluff it up.”
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remove glue from ice cubes
if you ever got glue On your carpet, you know it can feel like you have to live with it forever. The sticky substance forces its way into the fibers just like anything else, and sometimes the only solution is to cut it off with scissors or a sharp knife.
But before you break out the scissors, there’s actually a very easy solution to removing gum from carpet, and you probably already have this item in your home.
“With an ice cube, you can lay it flat and leave it there for a few minutes until the glue hardens,” says King. “Just scrape with a spoon or butter knife and it will come off easily without pulling the carpet fibers.”
Use essential oils for instant freshness
Taylor Riley, Founder of Boom. Facility services consultant and co-founder of Impact Cleaning Professionals has a simple trick for freshening up carpets or rugs before guests arrive. While they say it doesn’t necessarily help with cleaning, it does help with keeping your home smelling fresh if you’re short on time.
Riley recommends mixing some of your favorites essential oils In baking soda – he likes to use lavender or lemon. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then vacuum it up.
“It’s a quick and easy way to keep my carpets smelling fresh and get my home ready for guests without much effort,” he says.
Use Steam Iron for Wrinkles
Steam irons aren’t just for clothes. According to King, these are also a great way to remove wrinkles And wrinkles appear from rugs and carpets.
King suggests starting with a damp cloth, towel, or washcloth and placing it over the crease or wrinkled area.
Then run your steam iron over the fabric.
“I’ve used it for those curled up spots and I love how quickly it straightens things out,” says King.