Here’s how to clean carpets with snow…
In winter, when there’s snow in the garden, you can take the opportunity to thoroughly clean the old carpet. In fact, it’s one of Grandma’s tricks, even though she may not have had a vacuum cleaner at home. How do you go about it?
Cleaning carpets in the snow? It sounds a bit complicated, but it makes perfect sense. Back when vacuum cleaners didn’t yet exist, it was an effective way of ridding the house’s carpets of the dirt and dust that had accumulated over the year. There’s no need to use a chemical carpet cleaner, either. To find out how this method works, read this article.
Cleaning carpets in the snow – instructions
First of all, the snow layer must be thick enough for the carpet to be properly cleaned. If not, a carpet beater may be an additional tool. If you don’t have one to hand, you can also use a tennis or badminton racket. Proceed as follows, step by step:
- Take the carpet outside and lay it face down on the snow.
- Wait a few minutes for the velour to soak in and, optionally, pull the mat back and forth over the layer of snow.
- Tap the back of the carpet with the carpet beater to loosen dust and crumbs. Don’t tap too hard, as this will soak the carpet and make it very heavy.
- Finally, tap the snow off the carpet and hang it up to dry, preferably on a clothesline.
- It may take a few days before the carpet is dry again.
How does wet cleaning work?
The background to this method: as with a professional cleaner, the carpet pile is rinsed with water. The advantage of this method is that the carpet can still be moved well, as it is not too water-soaked. A carpet full of water can be up to four times heavier than when dry. What’s more, you save the cost of professional cleaning.
How often should a carpet be cleaned?
Carpets can be cleaned not only during the snow, but all year round. The most important thing is to vacuum carpets regularly, to prevent dirt from becoming embedded in the fibers. The frequency depends on the nature and use of the carpet. However, carpets should be cleaned of dust and dirt at least once a week.
Deep cleaning should also be carried out every one to two years. Everyone can do it themselves, using cleaners or household products adapted to the carpet material. Or you can call in a professional. The cost of professional cleaning depends on the type and size of carpet.
Cleaning carpets with household products
If you prefer to clean your carpet yourself, you can resort to home remedies. Baking soda or baking powder are effective ways of deep-cleaning carpets. Simply spread the powder on the carpet, sprinkle with warm water and leave for a few hours. Finally, dab gently, absorbing the powder, and leave to dry thoroughly.
Patting carpets well
As well as vacuuming and deep-cleaning carpets regularly, you should also beat them. This is the best way to get rid of even the most ingrained dust. All you need is a carpet beater (or similar utensil) and a suitable spot in the open air – otherwise, the dust will disperse throughout the apartment. Simply turn the carpet over and tap the underside. Really only the underside, otherwise you’d be tapping on the dust! The rug can then be hung outside for a few hours to air out properly.
