Spring in Northwest Arkansas typically brings some unpredictable weather, but you can almost always count on rain. While a wet spring is great for anyone who enjoys spending time on Arkansas rivers, it also creates a problem for homes with wall to wall carpets. The more it rains, the more mud there is outside, and the harder it is to keep your carpets clean. Here are some tips for keeping your carpets clean and cleaning mud from a carpet.
Preventing mud stains on a carpet
The easiest way to prevent mud stains is to keep mud from getting on the carpet in the first place. This is easier said than done, but there are things that you can do to help keep your carpets clean.
Double down on your door mats during rains. Lay an outside door mat to help remove as much mud as possible, and then place a secondary door mat inside to stand on while removing your shoes.
Having places to wipe or remove footwear can help prevent tracking mud, but it might not be enough on its own. Children don’t always remember to wipe their feet or remove their shoes, and you can’t ask patrons to remove their footwear before entering your place of business. Pets certainly won’t think to wipe their feet before entering your home. Instead of giving your dogs free rein of your fenced in yard take your dogs out on a leash if they need to go out in wet weather. Be sure to wipe their paws clean with a dry towel before entering the house. If your dog has a habit of climbing onto the couch – even though he’s not supposed to – many professional carpet cleaners also offer upholstery cleaning.
Cleaning mud from a carpet
Most homes and businesses don’t have professional carpet cleaning equipment on hand. So when it comes to cleaning mud from a carpet, you will have to make do with what you do have.
The most important thing to remember about removing mud from a carpet is to let it dry. People often make the mistake of spraying the mud with soapy water and trying to rub it into oblivion. This is just going to make things worse, especially if there’s clay in the soil.
Mud is just dirt once it dries, which is much easier to deal with. Thoroughly vacuum to remove dirt from the carpet. You really can’t over-vacuum, and the more dirt you pull out of the carpet, the better.
If there’s discoloration after you’ve removed as much dirt as possible, you can mix a mild detergent with tepid water and gently blot the solution onto the spot with a cloth. Move to clean parts of the rug as necessary, and be sure to pat dry the area with an absorbent cloth, towel, or dry sponge. Check out our blog entry, A Clean Carpet vs. Lasting Memories, to learn more about keeping your carpet spotless and to look into carpet cleaning options.
Call in the cavalry
Spot cleaning a carpet might be able to help keep your carpet presentable, but you will eventually need to call in a professional carpet cleaning service. Looking for carpet cleaners in Northwest Arkansas? Call Advanced Carpet Care and Janitorial at 479-621-6788 to make an appointment, or get a free online carpet cleaning quote. Advanced Carpet Care and Janitorial also offers upholstery cleaning.
