Spring is here but but winter may still has some chilly surprises in store. There’s nothing worse than opening up your home to spring sunshine and fresh air, only to find that the musty smells of winter have left your carpets and rugs feeling stale. Luckily for you, we’re here with some tips on how you can freshen up your home’s appearance using only a few household ingredients!
Review Your Carpet Care Routine
Seasonal changes affect how you clean your carpets. In the summer, your carpets will be more affected by sun and dust, so you may need to vacuum more often. In the winter, more dirt and grit will be tracked inside, so your carpet may need to be spot cleaned more frequently.
But what does this mean for springtime carpet cleaning?
Spring is the perfect time to tackle big cleaning projects, like deep cleaning your carpets. The most common spring cleaning tasks are windows and your carpets, so wait for a beautiful spring day, open all your windows, and clean them as your carpet dries.
Before you Get Started
Before you clean your carpets, it’s important to vacuum thoroughly. Be sure to get under furniture, into corners, and anywhere else that usually gets neglected. This will get rid of dirt, dust, and grit that you may have missed with lighter vacuuming in previous months.
Creating a Cleaning Solution
What is the best DIY carpet cleaning solution to use in the spring season? To create an effective cleaning solution, you’ll need to know what your carpet is made from.
For example, a natural fiber (i.e. wool, cotton, jute, coir) is best cleaned with a mild soap like Woolite. Synthetic fibers (i.e. polyester, nylon, polypropylene) need to be cleaned with an oxygenated disinfectant like Muti-Rinse.
The products you use also depend on the condition of your carpet. If your carpet is almost new, a truckload of grime is not going to appear anytime soon. If you just moved into your house or the carpet is more than twenty years old, it may require a stronger cleaning solution.
How to Make Your Carpets Have a Spring-Fresh Scent
Nothing is worse than smelly carpet. Odor coming from your carpet will instantly make your home feel dirty. But how do you make your carpet smell fresh for the spring season?
Just follow these simple directions for a quick carpet refresher:
- Mix equal parts of distilled white vinegar and water.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake well.
- Vacuum your carpet thoroughly.
- Spray the mixture onto your carpet.
- Wait an hour and then vacuum your carpet again.
The vinegar will help remove any dirt and oils that have built up over the winter, making your carpets feel (and smell) much fresher.
Baking soda is another powerful tool when it comes to deodorizing your carpet. The powder will absorb the odor and leave behind a fresh scent.
For a homemade carpet cleaning solution using baking soda, mix the following:
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1-quart warm water
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid or powder dish detergent
Simply mix all of the ingredients in a bucket or your carpet cleaning machine and start cleaning. The baking soda will help remove the dirt and stains from your carpet and leave behind a fresh scent.
How to Remove Pet Odors from Rugs and Carpets
Sometimes dogs are reluctant to go potty outside during the winter season and decide to take to your carpet as their very own indoor bathroom instead. How can you remove these stubborn pet odors from rugs and carpets?
Pet urine can be extremely difficult to remove from carpets, rugs, and hardwood floors. Removing that nasty smell from your home is much easier if you take care of the problem right away!
How to Remove Pet Urine Smell
- Mix ½ cup of baking soda with a little water until you have a thick paste.
- Spread the paste over the area where the dog urinated.
- Let the paste sit overnight.
- In the morning vacuum up the mixture- it should take most of the smell with it.
If you have several areas where your dog urinated you may need to use a commercial product sold at pet stores.
Can You Use Essential Oil on Carpet?
Essential oils come in a variety of fresh scents, but is it OK to use essential oils on carpet?
Yes, you can! However, you need to take some basic precautions to do this properly. It is easy to overdo it with essential oils if you aren’t careful.
Essential oils are absorbed by the fibers in your carpet. This can make your carpet smell great at first; but over time, the oils will build up, leaving a residue behind that attracts dirt, stains, and other messes.
How to Use Essential Oils and Carpet
The best way to keep your carpet smelling fresh is to use non-toxic cleaning practices, like simple baking soda and vinegar, but If you choose to add essential oils on your carpet for a fresh and clean scent, be sure to heed the following advice.
Before you start, you’ll need to make sure that you are using the right essential oils. Choose a scent that is pleasing, but also be aware of their surprising benefits. For example, some popular scents that will be safe to use on your carpet are;
- Tea Tree – Known for its anti-bacterial properties.
- Lemongrass – A great natural odor neutralizer. Additionally, this oil will not leave a residue on the carpet, keeping it looking and smelling great.
- Lavender oil – Helps you sleep, relieves stress and anxiety, improves your mood.
- Eucalyptus – A clean fragrance, great for getting rid of odors. It can also relieve a cough, cold, and sinus congestion.
- Peppermint – Great for keeping the bugs away!
No matter which oil you choose, you should dilute it with at least a 50:50 ratio of water so that you can get the right strength of scent.
Extend The Life Of Your Carpet And Rugs
Now that you know how to make your carpet smell fresh this spring season, let’s talk about how to keep carpets looking great for as long as possible.
- Try A Carpet Protector
Using the cleaning tips above, you can easily make your carpet smell fresh. However, if you want to avoid having to clean your carpet so often, you can use a carpet protector to keep out dirt and stains.
A carpet protector will coat your carpet with a water-repellent solution to make it more stain-resistant and easier to clean. A good carpet protector will also make your carpet look newer for longer.
- Establish a Cleaning Routine
One of the key rules to extending the life of your carpets is making sure that you clean them regularly.
Spot cleaning and vacuuming are your best friends when it comes to keeping your carpets looking and smelling fresh for as long as possible. Avoid getting deep stains by cleaning up messes quickly before they have a chance to set in.
Cleaning weekly with a vacuum cleaner is a great way to keep your carpets looking nice. It helps to remove all dirt, hair, and food crumbs and keeps debris from settling on your carpets, causing them to look dull and dingy. If there are any pets in your home, you’ll need to vacuum more often to keep up with the hair and dander.
More frequent deep cleanings (once a month or so) are a good idea when it comes to removing stains and other marks.
3. Invest in Professional Carpet Cleaning
If you notice that your carpet cleaning routine isn’t enough to remove tough stains and restore a fresh scent, you might need to call in professionals.
These are a few of the signs that it may be time to hire a carpet cleaner:
- You have persistent pet stains on your carpet that won’t come out with DIY methods.
- Your carpet is visibly dirty and stained.
- Your carpet is beginning to smell.
- You have a high traffic area like a family room or hallway.
Professional cleaners are much more effective at removing stains, marks, and odors. A professional carpet cleaning company is also better at restoring your carpet to its original look.
Need Spring Carpet Cleaning?
Hydra Clean Northwest is at your service for spring carpet cleaning. We take tired and dirty carpets, making them look new again. Contact us today for a quote!