Few things can spoil the appeal of a beautiful, plush carpet like a stubborn stain – yet in high-traffic areas like schools, commercial buildings, and hotels, occasional accidents are an inevitable occurrence.

While the result of almost any stain, from the unwanted residue of bodily fluids to sticky gum and dirt is usually unsightly, it’s worth knowing that there are plenty of solutions out there to banish blemishes, and keep your carpet looking wonderful for longer.

Since carpet care can be tricky, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide of tricks and products to help you navigate everything from carpet spot removal, to shampooing, and ongoing carpet maintenance.

Step 1: Banish Spots and Stains

Sometimes, a single blotch isn’t enough to warrant shampooing the entire carpet. Instead, precision cleaners by innovative brands like Innuscience, Cleantec, and Cleanline can help you to quickly blend away spots or stains, without wasting time, or money.

To use spot and stain remover, begin by spraying a solution such as Cleanline Spot & Stain Remover onto a cloth, rather than applying it straight to the carpet. Gently dab the mousse substance over the blemish, blotting up excess moisture as the stain begins to break down.

Follow this by spraying another cloth with cool water, and use that to dab away the remaining solution. Use a dry cloth or paper towels to soak up the excess moisture, as leaving carpets wet can cause them to come away from their backing.

Step 2: Get Rid of Gum and Other Sticky Substances

You may find that sticky substances create a particularly challenging stain, which requires the use of specialist cleaning products. Fortunately, rather than simply resigning yourself to a ruined carpet every time someone drops a piece of gum that gets squashed into the fibres, you can use highly effective gum removal solutions like Cleanline or Diversey Care chewing gum remover.

To use a chewing gum remover, simply spray the cleaner liberally over the chewing gum and any surrounding area, then use a scraper or cloth to peel the gum away from the fabric. Afterwards, you can simply rinse the area with a carpet shampoo or water, then blot away excess moisture.

Step 3: Use Carpet Shampoos and Carpet Cleaning Machines for a Deep Clean 

While it’s possible to shampoo your carpets by hand, cleaning large areas of carpet requires time, manpower, and energy. Instead, sophisticated carpet machines like the VAX Commercial Carpet Washer are far more effective in getting the job done quickly and thoroughly.

These machines have been designed specifically to freshen and clean rooms and high-traffic areas – ridding you of unwanted stains and scents in minutes. To shampoo your carpet with a carpet cleaning machine, we recommend the following steps:

• Clear the room you will be cleaning so that the carpet will dry properly afterwards
• Begin in one corner of the room, and walk slowly forward with the machine. The rotary brushes beneath the machine will move through the fibres of the carpet – removing and drawing out dirt, without damaging the material.
• Allow for ample drying time before replacing furniture.

If time really is of the essence to you, the GEN 4 Envirodri Dry Carpet Cleaning Machine could be just what you’re looking for. This revolutionary no-moisture carpet cleaning machine uses biodegradable microsponge technology that uses no solvents, making it suitable for use on wool carpets, and leaves the carpet completely dry and immediately ready to use.

Step 4: Perform Ongoing Maintenance

It is recommended that carpets are deep-cleaned every twelve months (or more frequently in high-traffic areas) to prevent the build-up of dangerous bacteria and microscopic substances, and equally as importantly to keep each room smelling fresh.

A top tip is that if using a wet carpet cleaning machine, use a dehumidifier or fan to expedite drying time following cleaning. It is advised to ensure that your carpet is dried within 24 hours, or you could risk bacteria and mildew growth in the fibres.

Do you have any more tips on getting tricky stains out of carpet, or general carpet cleaning tips? Leave us a comment below to share them with us.