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No matter the time of year, your carpets just can’t seem to catch a break. Mud, dust, spills, stains—your carpets have seen it all. To manage the mess, it’s important to give your carpet some love on the regular. Whether it’s a large area rug or wall-to-wall carpet, carpet cleaning can feel complicated. How often does it need to be cleaned? Are you using the right product? What material is your carpet made of?
If you’re feeling bogged down with the carpet-cleaning blues, don’t stress. You just need a little help from Charlie’s Soap. From the products to use to when to use them, here’s everything you need to know about cleaning your carpets.
Pre-Treat
Before you begin cleaning, prepare the carpet by removing furniture and large debris. You’ll want to vacuum the area thoroughly. Then, examine your carpet for any stained areas you want to pre-treat. To ensure that your carpets look like new, target the stains with Charlie’s non-chlorine oxygen bleach. Simply mix two parts of oxygen bleach to one part of water to create a thick paste. Our oxygen bleach is color and fabric-safe, but it’s always a good idea to test it first. Apply the paste in a small, inconspicuous area and wait 10 minutes. If the carpet shows no discoloration once you wash it off, you’re good to go.
Spread the paste on any stained areas, making sure to cover the stain entirely. Then, you can start cleaning your carpet with one of the methods below.
Cleaning with a Carpet Shampooer
Carpet shampooers are perfect for a deep, lasting clean that will get down to the roots of your carpet. However, many of the products marketed for carpet shampooing rely on caustic chemicals. Worse, even with rinsing, these chemicals leave a toxic residue that lingers for weeks. For those with allergies, sensitive skin, or pets, regular carpet cleaners mean trouble.
Good news; traditional carpet cleaners aren’t the only products you can use in a carpet shampooer. For effective cleaning without the chemical cocktail, stick with your favorite all-natural cleaner: Charlie’s Soap.
Using Charlie’s Soap with a Carpet Cleaner
To shampoo your carpets with Charlie’s Soap, stick with our natural liquid laundry detergent. Add one capful of our detergent to the cleaner compartment on your shampooing machine. Then, fill the water compartment with warm water. Be careful not to use hot water, as the heat could cause any synthetic fibers in your carpet to melt together. Then, you’re ready to go.
For that freshly cleaned carpet feel, work down the room in straight lines, overlaying each line. After you clean the area, give ample time for the carpet to dry completely without any foot traffic. If possible, increase ventilation with fans or open windows. Then, enjoy chemical-free, completely clean carpets with Charlie’s Soap.
Cleaning Carpets by Hand
To clean carpets by hand, gather a rag, a bucket of water, and one scoop of Charlie’s powder laundry detergent. Add the powder detergent to a spray bottle of warm water. Shake until it has dissolved completely. Working in small sections, spray the solution on your carpet. You’ll want to give your carpet a real working over; be sure to saturate the material completely. Allow the cleaner to sit for one minute, and blot the area with a wet rag.
As you work across the area, rinse your rag consistently. Depending on the size of the room, you may need to change out your water a few times. After you’ve washed the entire area, you’re good to go! Simply allow the area to air dry completely before bringing in furniture or foot traffic.
How Often Do You Need to Clean Your Carpets?
Each household has different carpet cleaning needs. Foot traffic, carpet age, and weather conditions all affect how often your carpet needs cleaning. Plus, kids and pets can do a number on carpets and rugs. If you know you’re facing a lot of time with little ones and furry friends, plan for more frequent carpet cleaning. However, as a general rule, the carpet should be cleaned once every 12 to 18 months.
Chemical-Free Cleaning with Charlie’s Soap
With Charlie’s Soap, residue-free carpet cleaning can be a breeze. Enjoy the natural Charlie’s clean on everything from your carpets to your laundry. From our powerful stain solutions to our all-purpose household cleaners, Charlie’s Soap helps you clean green. Explore more from Charlie’s Soap.
