Make carpets look like new with these few, simple cleaning tricks

Carpets are among the most loved furnishing accessories we use, and have been used for countless centuries in every part of the world. In addition to enhancing a room, they help us to keep warmer in winter. They also help to protect the floors of the house, especially in rooms with high traffic. But a carpet can also be a trap for dirt and bacteria - which is why it is good to routinely take care of their cleaning and maintenance.

For larger and more valuable carpets, it is always recommended to employ professionals who will use the appropriate machinery and cleaning solutions, but in other cases, and when it comes to dealing with spot treatments, you could try a series of very popular DIY remedies.

Shaving foam: This is an unusual remedy, but one which is much loved on the net. It works best on newly deposited stains, and consists of spraying a little shaving foam directly onto the stain. Dab the stain with a damp sponge, then spread the foam with a toothbrush without rubbing it in. Use only simple shaving foams - the completely white and traditional ones, without gels or colors. In any case, try the remedy on an inconspicuous area of ​​the carpet first, to check that it does not damage it.

Leave the foam on the stain for 15 minutes, then remove everything by dabbing it away with the wet sponge, cleaned off frequently. Finally, pat dry with towels so that they absorb as much moisture as possible.

Baking soda: pour one tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of vinegar on the stain. The reaction between the two dissolves the dirt, but you must always use the right proportions. As soon as they have finished reacting with each other creating a foam, you can dab it off with a clean cloth. This is a remedy that works best with non-greasy dirt stains.

Wash the carpets: if you want to try to wash the carpet (always after having done a test trial first), you can use soap and water.

• Dilute a couple of tablespoons of laundry soap (or Marseille soap) in 2 liters of water, and if you want, you can also add a few drops of sanitizing additives.
• With the help of a brush, scrub the soapy water onto the carpet.
• Rinse well. You can make this easier by using a water hose or even by putting small carpets in a tub.
• Before the last rinse, wet the carpet with a little white vinegar, so as to remove any residual soap between the fibers.
• Wrap and roll the carpet in old, thick towels and press down so that all as much water as possible will be absorbed by the towels.
• Let the carpet dry by hanging it in an airy and warm place.