How to Prevent Carpet Stains and Spills
If you have carpet, the first thing you should do to prevent spills is watch all your children and pets carefully what they do. If that’s not possible, there are a few things you can do to minimize the risk of stains on your carpet.
Treat your Carpets
If you have new carpets, invest in a stain-resistant treatment like Scotchguard. Many companies will do this for an additional fee when installing carpet, but it’s also possible to apply it yourself. It’s not a silver bullet, but it will help mitigate any damage that might happen to your carpets before you have to call in the professionals.
Invest wisely
If you’re thinking about getting new carpets, get either a nylon or wool-based one. Both kinds are hardy – wool will likely last longer, but nylon will probably resist stains better. These are ideal for a house with kids and pets, and will help you in keeping a new carpet looking fresh. And, no – there is no particular color that really works better.
Minimize dirt
First, it helps if you can remove shoes, dirty clothes, and other muddy items right when you get home – but leave your socks on! Your feet have oils that get left behind on carpet, acting like a magnet for dirt. Vacuum regularly and often (every day if you want!), and make sure you change out the bags or filters frequently.
Spot Treatment
Keep a reliable, effective stain remove around and act quickly. Blot any fresh stains you see with a clean cloth but do not rub! Once you’ve blotted up as much as you can, use your spot treatment to quickly take care of any spills that happened. Sometimes using a little hot water with it can help remove more stubborn stains that have been there longer, as well.
Use protection
For high traffic areas, think about getting a rug or a plastic carpet runner. This can add a layer of protection, and some added cushion sometimes, for your rooms that are most likely to get dirty. Rugs are easy to swap, clean and even remove, and they protect your floors underneath from dirt, stains, and foot traffic. Plus, it lets you change things up in your room every so often without having to spend a fortune in re-carpeting your house.
Read the label
Some of the worst stains on carpet happen when people try to treat the stain themselves when they should have called in the professionals. Or, they use the wrong product for their carpet, buy a new product and don’t spot check it. Always read the label to determine how the product will be used best, and always do a spot check on a hidden or inconspicuous area of your house to make sure there will be no lasting stains from its use.
You will still need to invest in professional carpet cleaning every so often to preserve the integrity of your carpet, but by doing the above, you will cut down on how often they need to come, saving you time, money and hassle.
