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Rugs and carpets add
to the décor and buoy the spirit of the room. They have become such an
inevitable part of our existence that a home looks bare without one. Of
course when it is new, you do not have any problems, but as it gathers dust
and dirt your problems mount. How then do we bring life back to the jaded
carpet that just six months ago was rich in color and texture? With so many
cleaners in the market, we do not have a problem; in fact the problem is one
too many a cleaner that causes a lot of confusion. What is the best way to
tackle your carpet without damaging the fibers?
The age-old adage “ a stitch in time saves nine” immediately comes to mind.
We can resort to the good old plain and regular vacuuming which is sure to
keep dirt from percolating through and will definitely help to prolong the
life of the carpet. Sometimes though, this is insufficient, as the suction
from the vacuum cleaner cannot suck the dried mud, which has sneaked
in-between the fibers. Heavy-duty cleaners need to step in.
For a really deep clean, we need to resort to steam cleaners (although there
is no steam involved.) The carpet is first Vacuumed to extract much dirt as
possible and then hot water and a cleaning solution is methodically applied
while a wand simultaneously sucks the water and the dirt. Dry the carpet and
the wand true to its name has performed wonders.
We have often associated the word foam and shampoo with the cleaning of
hair, but strangely these terms are also applied to carpets. They are tried
and tested techniques and can be used in conjunction with steam cleaning.
Buffers are used to introduce the foam or shampoo solution on to the carpet
and as it works its way into the fiber, small sections of the carpet are
cleaned repeatedly, just as is done when cleaning a floor .The disadvantage
is that the shampoo or foam seems to have an affinity for the carpet and
refuses to budge until it is steam cleaned. Of course if a bonnet is
attached to the base of the buffer, it does simplify things a little as the
bonnet starts absorbing the dirt and can be rinsed. A way out of this wet
and sticky situation is to dry clean it. A solvent powder sprinkled on the
carpet attracts the accumulated dirt and good old vacuuming does the rest.
There are cleaners
(powders) to remove bad odors, and exposure to sunlight prevents mildew, but
remembers the golden rule “ all cleaners are not good for all carpets”. Just
as every individual is allergic to different things and needs different
antihistamines, every carpet depending on the fiber needs special care.
Needless to say “prevention is better than cure”. Prevent spills and stains
and if that is not possible, take quick remedial action. However, human
beings being human, carpets will be soiled and cleaners will be used.
Whether carpets are a boon or a bane depends solely on you.
Carpet cleaners
~ Business guide & editor M Swami ~ copyright indianchild.com
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