How To Clean And Disinfect Carpets At Home? Carpet removal can be a daunting task, but you should keep in mind that very helpful products are available to clean and disinfect the carpet.
You can use a rented steam cleaner or even use old-fashioned hot water and dish soap solution to remove the stains and dirt from your carpet. Once you’ve cleaned the carpets, it’s time to focus on disinfecting them as well. Don’t worry; we’ll give you some tips about how to do that as well!
Read on – How To Clean And Disinfect Carpets At Home?
1. Remove as much water as possible
Use a dry towel to remove excess water before beginning any cleaning process. Water can make your carpets damp and cause mould if not removed, which is bad for your pet’s health.
Again, use a towel that has not been used with chemicals or detergents because the residue on it could harm your pet upon contact.
2. Use cleaning tools made especially for pets
Tools specialized for pet messes are available in most retail stores that sell household products. You can also try using alternatives found around the house such as baking soda, moistened paper towels, vinegar fabric and softener.
But be sure to test these options first on an inconspicuous area of your carpet so you can check for any discolouration or damage.
3. Clean each area of your carpet separately
It is important not to mix up the stains because this could make it harder to clean all the messes properly. Make sure that you use separate towels, brushes, etc., for each stain.
4. Treat fresh pet messes quickly
Pet urine accumulates in layers over time, so it’s best to use a cleaner immediately after your pet has urinated on the carpet since fresher substances are easier to remove than older ones.
This means if you didn’t get rid of your pet’s accidents right away, scheduling accidents ahead of time would be helpful – by mapping out when they are most to happen and keeping an eye out for them.
5. Decide on the best cleaning solution
There are two ways to go about doing this: either use cleaners that are made specifically for pet messes or use separate products meant for regular carpet cleaning in addition to some water and vinegar (3 parts water, 1 part vinegar).
The former option is available at most stores that sell pet supplies, while the latter can be found in your kitchen cabinet.
Whichever you decide to use, make sure to keep it away from children and pets because many of these substances contain chemicals that can harm your pets if ingested or even just touched with bare skin.
6. Wash out the solution once finished
Some solutions require rinsing after applying them, so make sure to read through each product’s instruction manual before use.
7. Let dry thoroughly
Whether you are using water or a commercial solution, let the area of your carpet that has been cleaned thoroughly dry before allowing pets to walk on it, so they don’t slip and hurt themselves.
8. Get rid of wet carpets if needed
If the carpet is too wet to allow enough time for drying, remove it first, then allow the underlay beneath it to also dry. You can lay this new one back down once done but make sure to clean the latter as well since it may have absorbed some dirt along with the old carpeting!
9. Scrub tough stains with baking soda mixed in water
Add three parts water to every 1 part of baking soda you use and apply the mixture to your carpet using a brush. Let it sit for 60 minutes before vacuuming it up again.
10. Clean your pet’s toys regularly
Dirty toys can spread bacteria, so make sure to wash them with soap and water once every week or two! This is especially important if you are planning on giving these items to children since kids are more prone to putting in their mouths anything that looks like food, even if it isn’t something they should be eating.
11. Borax can also be used
Borax has excellent alkaline properties, which give it remarkable antimicrobial properties, so you want to have this ingredient handy dealing with pet urine stains.
Mix two parts borax with one part water to make the ideal solution for lifting pet stains and grime from your carpets that may be embedded into them. The best thing about this method is that it deodorizes (removes bad odour) and disinfects simultaneously!
12. Keep furniture legs away from carpets
It’s always beneficial to keep furniture legs away from your carpet pile using furniture protectors because this way, you’ll avoid salt deposits being rubbed into them along with tough stains that are difficult to get rid of without professional help.
Use felt fabric or clear plastic protectors on wooden legs, then use rubber ones on metal or plastic pieces. You can also try placing round pieces of paper underneath each leg to absorb moisture and dirt.
13. Refresh the pile
Carpets get flattened over time, especially if they are used by many people in your household or suffer from heavy use, making it difficult to remove stains with regular cleaning methods.
You can revive their former glory by simply flipping them upside down and vacuuming both sides thoroughly before putting them back into place afterwards.
This way, you will also put some space between the carpet pile and hard flooring, which will let air flow through, thus making your carpets dry faster after spills happen.
14. Vinegar and water help remove tough stains
It’s time to bring out the big guns – vinegar and water, which is a very powerful combination for killing bacteria that cause bad odour in your carpets.
Mix equal parts of both ingredients into a spray bottle, then use it on tough stains before scrubbing them with a brush from the direction of the carpet’s pile. Rinse afterwards by soaking up excess moisture with paper towels or rugs made from natural materials such as hemp or jute.
How To Clean And Disinfect Carpets At Home? – Conclusion
Carpets can last a long time if they’re properly maintained, especially when using the methods explained above, prolonging their lifespan.
You don’t necessarily have to replace them altogether, but invest some time into regular cleaning, which will pay off in the end! I hope this article was informative for you and that it will help you maintain your carpets by yourself at home.