When I talk on the phone, I walk around my house and tidy up. Today, I noticed that the carpet in my living room is really starting to look dirty. One of these days, I’ll steam clean it, but until then, here’s what I’ll do to refresh it in a hurry.
Grab baking soda, sprinkle it on carpet and rub it in with a stiff brush. As it sits for several hours or overnight, the baking soda soaks up any odors, and it’s easy to remove with the vacuum the next day.
Apply hydrogen peroxide to stains. With a little blotting, you won’t be able to tell there was even a stain in that spot.
Ice cubes can remove indentations. After they melt, scrub the spot with a stiff brush and watch the carpet return to like-new condition.
A damp cloth and iron also refresh carpet pile. Lay the damp cloth on the spot and gently iron it. Then brush the carpet into place. Make sure the cloth remains damp and the iron doesn’t touch the carpet or you’ll get ugly burn marks.
Vacuum the entire carpet with at least three strokes on every section. Some spots, especially where I walk often, might need seven strokes to look clean and fresh again. I’ve even soaked a cotton ball in aromatic essential oils and tossed it in the vacuum’s canister to make my house smell fresh as I refresh my carpets!
Cover spots with decorative rugs or runners. I keep a supply in the hall closet to use when unexpected guests show up before I’ve had time to vacuum.
Even when I don’t have time to deep clean my carpet, I can refresh it quickly with these tips. What works for you?
