How to Clean your Carpet

Over the years I've learned to clean a number of household stains from carpets.

I use different combinations of vinegar, bicarb of soda, glycerine, methylated spirits, talcum powder and sometimes ice cubes to get my carpets clean and fresh again. My tools are a small nylon-bristled brush and toothbrushes. Buy a few toothbrushes and keep them in a drawer ready for cleaning up spills.

Am I the only one to spill red wine on my carpet?

Shake your packet of bicarb over the stain and cover it. Use a fair amount, so that the stain is fully covered and you can't see it anymore.

Let the bicarb dry. This will take only a minute, so spend that minute setting up your vacuum cleaner.

Vacuum up the bicarb.

Reapply more bicarb, not so much this time. Add a couple of drops of vinegar and now scrub the stain with a nylon brush.

Let it dry. Vacuum again

Candles turn a room into something special but, when a bit of wax drops on your carpet, it's enough to put you off romantic candlelit evenings for life!

Ice is the answer to wax.

Place a couple of ice cubes (inside a small plastic bag) over the wax and it will harden. With a blunt knife, scrape off as much as you can.

Can you wedge a piece of metal under the remaining wax? I use a nit comb for this. Now you need a commercial paper towel. Put a piece of paper towel over the wax and give it a blast from your hairdryer. The paper will absorb the wax.

You may have to repeat this a couple of times but the wax will eventually come off.

Never use an iron on your carpet!

Cleaning a stain from your carpet involves getting down on your knees.

If you're anything like me, cleaning results in stiff (and sore) knees. Use a kneeling pad for protection or invest in some knee pads. Strap-on pads are designed for gardening and really ease the old bones when you're down there with a nailbrush .

Neiko Comfort Gel-Filled Protective Knee Pads - $10.88

Whoops! Beer all over the carpet. Been there, done that. Grab a towel and soak up as much as you can.

Next, put a couple of teaspoons of cold water in a dish and add enough detergent to produce froth. Stir up the detergent with your fingers so it's really sudsy. What you want to clean the stain is the detergent suds, not the water. Take a toothbrush and spread the detergent suds over the stain.

Let it dry. Repeat as necessary.

You can put your pet in a bath but not the carpet!

Soak up what you can from the carpet with disposable paper towels. (if your pet has left solids just scoop up with wads of paper towel). Keep soaking up until the carpet is touch dry.

Pour a moderate amount of bicarb over and add a splash of vinegar.

Scrub with a toothbrush. (Throw away the toothbrush afterward).

Let it dry, then vacuum.