Get rid of carpet stains

Got red wine stains? No need to panic – we asked the carpet and upholstery cleaning experts from 1001 to share their industry secrets. Here’s how.

1. It's not exactly rocket science but keep your carpets clean by always having a clean doormat at the door and wiping your feet well. Change into house shoes once inside to reduce the amount of surface soiling that makes it look dirty. This prevents the build up of gritty soil which grinds away at the base of the tufts and wears your carpet out quicker. It also stops bacteria breeding, too ‚ important if you've got crawling toddlers.

2. Vacuum regularly and don't let the bag or canister get too full as the suction efficiency can drop dramatically when the collection bin or bag becomes half full.

3. Deal with spillages immediately. Absorb liquid spills with either white kitchen towel or an absorbent 'terry' towel ensuring all liquid is absorbed from the area and preventing the stain from re-appearing after cleaning or spreading during the cleaning process.

4. Always test an inconspicuous area of carpet/upholstery with your chosen cleaning product before use to check your carpet/upholstery is colourfast and suitable for wet cleaning.

5. Scrape up any excess solid. If the stain has a solid ingredient, such as food spillage or vomit, scrape up as much of the solids as possible using a kitchen spatula before you begin to work on the residue.

6. Take your time...and be gentle! Always try to work from the outer edge when removing a stain. If you start in the centre, the stain will get bigger as it spreads. NEVER RUB OR SCRUB - simply BLOT. Otherwise you'll cause permanent damage to the carpet pile. You may get rid of the stain but you won't be able to correct the damage.

7. Try not to overwet the carpet. On jute backed carpets this may cause additional problems as the carpet dries as coloured pigments from the jute may wick to the surface resulting in a difficult-to-remove stain known as cellulosic browning. Shrinkage may also occur.

8. After treating stains, cover the treated area with clean kitchen towel and place a heavy weight such as a book over the top for about 12 hours. This will ensure any liquid residue is lifted and avoid brown ring marks which can sometimes appear as a result of the carpet backing getting wet and wicking up through the fibres.

9. When cleaning laminate/wood floors work from one end of the room to the other and wipe in the direction of the pattern

10. If you don’t have time for a daily clean (which, let’s face it, not many of us do) use a daily freshener designed specifically for use on carpets, rugs and upholstery, such as 1001’s No Vac, which treats everyday smells including pets, tobacco and cooking, without the need for vacuuming.

For more tips on caring for your carpets please log on to www.1001carpetcare.co.uk

Get rid of carpet stains

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