Prepping your rental
A carpet is an undeniable asset and can bring an element of style and comfort to your rental. Saying that, it’s still very important to choose a carpet that’s suitable for the heavy traffic of guests coming in and out and of course, one that’s easy to maintain, avoiding the build-up of dust and mites. So for your carpet to retain its splendour, here are a few old-fashioned and tricks that will help you maintain it, revive its colours, dry clean it and remove stubborn stains. Simple effective, and economical solutions. Here’s the proof…
A few precautions…
As long as the carpet isn’t stained, dry cleaning is sufficient for maintenance. Clean it twice a year using baking soda or some “Terre de Sommières”. This is also the preferred technique for valuable carpets or wool rug.
First, vacuum away any dust and then sprinkle the entire carpet with baking soda. If your carpet is a long haired model, brush it to ensure that the powder penetrates between fibers. Let sit for 3 to 4 hours, or overnight, then vacuum to remove excess product. Do not rub the product in. Baking soda will make neutralize mites, remove any stains as well as remove odours.
Use “terre de Sommières”, known as fuller's earth, in the same way as baking soda. Sprinkle, wait, vacuum. This 100% natural clay is natural, dry stain remover ideal for delicate textiles.
Over the years, a carpet can become tarnished and loose its lustrous colours. Use these tips at home to restore your carpet/rug’s original depth.
Pour soda water into a spray bottle, then use it to moisten the entire carpet. You can also use a sponge if you prefer. Gently rub the carpet fibres with a brush so that they absorb the liquid. Let dry.
Infuse potato peels in hot water. Soak a sponge in the starchy solution and rub the carpet with it. Let sit for 3 to 4 hours, and then rinse with a sponge and clean water. Let dry.
To remove small food stains, there are three old-fashioned remedies.
Soak a cloth in vinegar and scrub the stain. Next, prepare a mixture composed of one-third white vinegar, one-third hot water and one-third soap flakes. Brush the mixture into the carpet, wash with a sponge and clean water, wipe with a clean cloth and let dry.
If it’s not a very valuable carpet, you can use black soap or Marseille soap. Rub the stain with a sponge soaked in soapy water, then dampen a sponge in a light vinegar and water mixture and rinse. Let dry.
Use shaving foam as a stain remover. Just apply a thick layer on the stained area. Let sit for an hour and scrub with a sponge. Another option is letting the foam sit for half a day and then vacuuming it clean.
Occasionally you may be faced with extremely resistant stains. In these cases you need something a little stronger to get rid of them.
Add a cup of soda ash to a litre of water and mix. Dampen a sponge with the mixture and scrub the stain. Rinse with clean water and absorb excess moisture with a clean cloth. If possible it’s a good idea to then dry the carped with a hair dryer on warm air mode.
Fill a spray bottle with two-thirds cold water and a third ammonia. Dampen the carpet and vigorously brush the stain. Rinse with a sponge soaked in vinegar water and dry with a hairdryer. Above all, remember to ventilate the room and wear gloves when using ammonia.