Fresh, clean carpet feels wonderful underfoot and makes a world of difference to the overall household atmosphere. Unfortunately, good carpet cleaning is often costly and not always environmentally friendly.
When we think of carpet cleaning, we usually think of the big, heavy machines that leave the house smelling of chemicals and the carpet damp for hours afterwards. Many of the substances used commercially are caustic and are not ideal, especally if there are pets or small children in the home. There are alternatives to try that are more environmentally friendly - and better on the budget too!
One of the easiest ways to restore and clean carpets is to sprinkle on salt and leave it to sit for 15 or 20 minutes. Then all you need to do is vacuum it up. You can also use cornstarch as an alternative.
Another environmentally friendly carpet cleaning tip is to sprinkle on baking soda mixed with 20 drops of essential oil. This not only cleans the carpet, but deoderises as well (which is perfect if there are pets in the house). Make sure you mix the oils into the baking soda properly, as they have a tendency to clump together. Lavender is a perfect essential oil for this purpose, as it has a beautiful fragrance and is also very therapeutic. Rosemary, thyme, and basil have insect repelling properties, so are also good choices.
Baking soda is also useful for spot carpet stains. Mix it with water and spray onto the mark before carefully blotting (not rubbing). For greasy or heavy stains, use a decent amount of dry baking soda to cover the stain. Leave it to dry over night then vacuum in the morning.
Club soda is another favourite environmentally friendly carpet cleaner. Immediately soak the stain with the soda and blot. For stains such as coffee, soak up as much as possible with a damp cloth then cover the mark with dry salt. Leave it to dry for 30 minutes (or until dry) then vacuum.
Vinegar is a staple in the green cleaning arsenal. It works well on some carpet stains, either mixed with water or undiluted. Crayon stains, for example, come off well with vinegar and a little gentle scrubbing. Stains such as chocolate, cola, fresh pet stains, tea, or coffee can be treated with a mixture of one cup vinegar and two cups warm water. The vinegar not only cleans and deoderises, but acts as a mild disinfectant too.
Source: Green Clean: Eco-friendly hints and tips! ImPulse Paperbacks, 2009.
