A fully carpeted home can be a lush, cozy, and warm place, but keeping that carpet clean is rarely an easy task. Carpets are magnets to dirt and dust, and they can be breeding grounds for mold and bacteria. In addition to this, most carpet cleaning products and techniques are packed with toxic chemicals and substances that are harmful to both the environment and your health. Aside from the volatile organic compounds that can be given off by many synthetic carpets, the cleaning products themselves contain potentially carcinogenic chemicals. If you want to keep your carpet clean without exposure to these substances, consider some more eco friendly cleaning options.
Vacuuming is the first choice for carpet cleaning in most households, and it happens to be quite effective as well as eco friendly. Vacuum cleaning maintains cleanliness in your carpet using nothing but electric power and suction. Vacuum your carpet regularly, and you may not even need other cleaning solutions. For an extra kick to your vacuum routine, lightly dust your carpet with baking soda. Baking soda is a natural odor eliminator that can be used all over the home. Let a dusting of baking soda set into your carpet for ten minutes before vacuuming for a good cleaning and deodorizing effect.
While vacuuming is enough to fill most of your carpet cleaning needs, it is not always enough. Some stains linger long after vacuuming, and they can turn beautiful carpets into unsightly messes. When a more powerful solution is needed, consider a spot cleaning first. Spot cleaning your carpet from time to time is a great way to manage stains without the trouble of deep cleaning. Club soda can help to bring out fresh stains. For an older stain, a mixture of water and white vinegar makes a good stain-breaking soak. An exceptionally tough stain might require something stronger–for these cases you can spot clean with a mixture of salt, vinegar, and borax.
For the most thorough deep cleaning available, there’s no substitute for a steam cleaning. Renting a steam cleaner is one option, but you will find that they are filled with chemical residue from past use. To avoid bleeding these chemicals into your own carpets, wash out the cleaning chamber to remove any lingering chemicals, or invest in your own brand new steam cleaner. You can load your cleaner with a mixture of water and white vinegar, the same substance used for a basic spot cleaning. No need to worry about a lingering smell or discoloration–vinegar leaves no odor behind when it dries and it is safe for all carpet colours.
Cleaning your carpet the eco friendly way doesn’t have to be difficult, and it doesn’t have to be expensive either. There are a number of green cleaning products on the market that you could try, but you can also get great results using natural cleaners that are already in your home. Cut the chemicals out of your life for your own sake, and for the good of the environment as well.
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