Of all home furniture elements, carpets are the ones which have the ability to create cosiness and warmth like no other piece of decoration. However, they are also magnets for dust and dirt of any kind, which needs to be dealt with frequently. If your family has children and/or pets, be aware that the carpet is their greatest temptation.

Perhaps you have seen more than once how babies admire every hair or stain found on the fluffy and loving carpet? Carpets are like a collector for all kinds of germs, from which we have to protect our children and pets. The vacuum cleaner does a good job, but when it comes to dust and microbes, professional carpet cleaning solutions are the best.

Of course, there are those of you who have been wondering whether to entrust their carpet to professionals or to take care of it themselves. Those who have enough free time probably already have tried to clean the carpet with sprays. But before you reach for the next bottle of spray, consider a few things. Firstly, how safe it is for your health; and second, are you sure you used the correct one?

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Carpet cleaning sprays do the really work

How safe are carpet cleaning sprays?

What TV or online ads do not tell you is that most sprays and detergents in general contain toxic chemicals and cause side effects. In fact, so-called store-brand products can be one of the most serious sources of toxins along with dirty food, polluted air and cheap cosmetics. Long-term exposure to certain hazardous chemicals, such as bleach, may cause many health problems.

Toxins from cleaning agents enter the body mainly through inhalation and through skin contact, if you clean without protection. Remember to use protective gloves and a mask every time you clean your carpet. Even though the product may be eco-friendly, you still don't want cleaning solutions to touch your skin.

And when you're equipped to protect yourself, think of the carpet fibres too. Not all products are usable on all types of carpets, so prepare to perform patch tests for every product. Here is how to do a spot test of any carpet cleaning product:

  • select a small area of carpet you can easily cover up, or which is out of sight
  • apply a small amount of the carpet cleaner on it, and wait a few minutes
  • blot the spot with a damp cloth

If there are any traces of the carpet colours on the cloth, discontinue using the cleaning solution immediately. Otherwise, feel free to use the stain and odour remover on your carpets and upholstery. As anything, don't overdo it or you might end up causing bigger problems for yourself.

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How to make a homemade carpet cleaner?

If you want to try an effective home remedy method of cleaning your carpet from stains and odours, prepare the following products: baking soda, white vinegar and dish soap. What you have to do is to sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet, specifically on the stain. Wait for at least 10 minutes before beginning to collect the substance with a hoover. Never rub or scrub a stain which is still damp, or you may push it deeper into the fibres.

If you have to deal with a dry stain, spray it with water first to moisten it. Then, mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of dish soap in a refillable spray bottle. Add a pint of water, mix until fully dissolved, then spray the affected area. Remember to blot and rinse after doing so, and if needed, repeat the process.

When applying home remedies to your carpets, it is best to use a spray bottle. However, if you don’t have one, dip a sponge in the solution and apply it to the stain. Then dab with a cloth or paper towel until the liquid is absorbed. If dealing with a stubborn stain, a brush may be used to apply and scrub into the dry stain.

Organic carpet cleaning products

How do I use carpet cleaning sprays correctly?

There are many effective carpet cleaning sprays on the market and not all of them are dangerous for your health. Professional high-quality cleaning sprays are much more affordable than you think. If you have a problem with spots, stains and spills, caused by children or pets, the use of professional cleaning agents is required. You will not believe the difference that a properly chosen professional spray will make.

But before you just randomly buy one, you need to make your own research. Nowadays, there are many cleaning sprays, each of which has a different purpose. Before using the product you have chosen, be sure to read the label on the packaging. There are, for example, a lot of sprays that can be too strong and damage your carpets.

Note that there are two kinds of carpet cleaning sprays, the liquid type and the foam type. You want to use a foam spray when you spilled something in a specific area and only want to treat that part. As for when the carpet is dirty all over, the liquid spray will be more efficient as it is easily applied.

Each of the types of carpet sprays works in a different way, but affects stains equally well. As you read below, you'll find that there are effective ones of each variety for many types of stains. Whatever your choice, prepare to rinse the sprays out of the carpet after cleaning.

Speaking of rinsing, it's a step too commonly overlooked in carpet cleaning using any type of liquid products. Understandably, you do not need to rinse powders out, as you can just hoover them instead. But any carpet shampoo, foam or spray should be treated with water before being extracted. To this end, you can achieve better results by using a carpet cleaning machine for extraction.

If you don't have your own carpet deep cleaning machine, you can rent one instead. Brands like Rug Doctor allow you to hire a machine for a price suitable for any budget. They can help you deal with tough stains on the fibres, such as red wine stains and pet stains.

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carpet cleaning spray

What is the best carpet cleaner spray?

Now that you know about carpet cleaning spray types and how to use them, let's look at the ones we recommend. Remember to blot and rinse after using each one, and do not mix them with other products. Here are the top 5 carpet cleaning sprays you can find online:

Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator

This cleaning spray is completely colour fast and safe for your carpets, as certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval. The enzymes inside, all too common for pet cleaning solutions, swiftly neutralize any animal bodily fluids. The manufacturer has confirmed it is also suitable for hard surfaces, making cleaning after your pets a breeze all around the house.

Bissell Professional Power Shot Oxy Carpet Spot

Bissell's carpet spray uses the power of oxygen to remove the most severe stains, such as red wine and coffee spillages. It is also capable of dealing with uncommon but strong stains, such as engine oil or raw fruit juice. It is eco-friendly and has the amazing feature of working on a stain for 24 hours after being applied. This effect persists even after blotting, giving it great value for money.

Hoover Oxy Spot and Stain Remover

Hoover's carpet spray is your closest relative to professional pre-treatment products. To cut it short, pre-sprays are the ones that make stain removal easier by working their way into a stubborn stain. Due to its nature, it works best when combined with another product, which is the complete opposite of Bissell's Power Shot. We recommend using Hoover's Oxy Spot and Stain Remover for your carpets, vehicle upholstery and your home furniture.

Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover

US-made Folex's spray is absolutely fantastic for removing just about any stain that may have occurred on your carpets and upholstery. It manages this without being harmful to the material. We personally recommend it for removing stains of organic nature, such as blood and rust. The manufacturer advertises it as not needing rinsing, as it is quick-action and should be rapidly blotted out.

Carbona Oxy-Powered 2-in-1 Carpet Cleaner

Carbona's foam spray comes in with a brush and a sponge, making cleaning a total pushover. This raises efficiency during the process by about 33%, which is nothing to scoff at. The oxygen technique is once again going to help you deal with old stains, as it will push the particles apart.