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Fall is approaching fast and with this time of year comes cookouts, dinner parties and holiday parties. As you get your home in order and ready for these events, one thing to remember is that your carpets need to be cleaned. You want to put your best foot forward and cleaning your carpets is one way of doing that.
Depending on the severity of the stains in your carpet you may be able to get away with a simple canned rug cleaner or you may end up having to rent a professional rug cleaner. If you have only a few simple spots that you'd like to treat then getting a can of stain remover followed up my a can of rug cleaner is the way to go. Both will work in unison together and will typically get the stains right out. If you have those deep down, set in stains then you'll want to invest in renting a professional rug cleaner. This method will allow you take hot water and a bottle of rug cleaner and gently work the stains out of the carpet. By applying the hot solution to the stain then sucking it back up, those deep down stains tend to come up quickly. If not don't panic, just repeat the process a few times and that normally does the trick.
The best step to cleaning your carpet is to prevent the stains from day one. Several of today's carpets come already treated with Scotch Guard. However there are other stain protectors that can do the same thing. Often times something is spilt on the carpet and we think we got it up. However, when we come back the stain is still there. This is from the stain being partially removed but the remaining spill which has settled at the base of the carpet still remains. To prevent this from happening, simply place a cloth over the stain and set a heavy object on top of that and leave it overnight. This will allow the pressure to help soak up any excess moisture. Often after doing so you won't need a rug cleaner but just a simple spot treater.
Never attempt to use a heat source such as a dryer to dry the stain. Doing so will only set the stain in and make it harder and sometimes impossible to remove later with a rug cleaner. Should you have mold or mildew stains on your carpet try using a non-chlorine bleach to help treat these areas. This along with a professional steam rug cleaner should help remove the mildew.
Of course the key is to treat a stain immediately after it happens. If you do this right away then water usually takes car of the spill. Be sure to read the instructions on the product you use. Follow the manufacturer's directions carefully to avoid any further damage to your carpet. Stains don't have to be the end all to your get togethers. A few prevention methods as well as knowing how to treat those little accidents will make your life easier down the road.