In wet weather, carpet cleaning challenges arise from all the mud that is deposited indoors from garden shoes, soccer cleats and muddy paws. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) offers timely cleaning tips for ensuring that your carpet makes it through the season.

 

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So, how do you remove those muddy spots?

First of all, allow the mud to dry thoroughly and then vacuum.

 

If spots remain, remove them with a quality spot cleaner. Through independent testing, CRI found that some carpet cleaners don't work any better than water. To identify superior cleaning products, CRI developed the Seal of Approval testing and certification program. For a product to receive the CRI Seal of Approval, it must prove effective at removing some of the most stubborn carpet spills, including yellow mustard, grape juice, hot black coffee, chocolate syrup, permanent marker and dirty motor oil. Besides spot removers, the Seal of Approval is also awarded to pre-spray and in-tank cleaning products. Visit the CRI website to see a list of Seal of Approval certified products.

CRI offers these other spot removal tips:

• Generally, the quicker you act, the better. The longer a spot stays on a carpet, the harder it is to remove.
  
  
• Always blot — never scrub — with a clean white, dry, absorbent cloth. Scrubbing can damage the carpet fiber.
  
  
• Work from the outer edge in towards the center of the spot to avoid spreading it.

Vacuuming for Success

Today's carpets are designed to hide dirt and resist soiling and staining. But that's no excuse to skip regular vacuuming. Soil can damage fibers if it remains in the pile.

• Use a CRI Green Label certified vacuum cleaner. These machines remove soil effectively without damaging the carpet and help maintain good indoor air quality. Visit the CRI website (www.carpet-rug.org) to see a list of Green Label certified vacuum cleaners.
  
  
• Vacuum areas of your carpet that get light traffic once or twice a week and more often in places where people gather, kids play and pets roam.
  
  
• Use up to three passes of the machine for light soiling. Five to seven are necessary for heavily soiled areas.

When Deep Cleaning is Required

Stubborn spots and embedded soil require deep cleaning, preferably every 12 to 18 months. Options are to use a professional service or to rent or purchase carpet-cleaning equipment for do-it-yourself cleaning. In either case, use a cleaning method recommended by the carpet manufacturer to maintain the product warranty.

• Professional cleaning is recommended for carpet and area rugs that are made of wool, silk or other natural fibers.
  
  
• For any do-it-yourself cleaning method, the following points are critical: always pre-vacuum to remove as much dry soil as possible, and follow instructions carefully!
  
  
• A common mistake with do-it-yourself cleaning is using too much cleaning agent and failing to extract all the product from the carpet during the cleaning process. The product residue not only attracts dirt and makes carpet look bad, but it also speeds the breakdown of fiber, shortening the life of the carpet.

To learn more, visit the "Care and Cleaning" section of the CRI Web site (www.carpet-rug.org).

 

About The Carpet and Rug Institute

The Carpet and Rug Institute, headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, is the national trade association for the carpet and rug industry. Its members are manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers, representing over 90% of all carpet produced in the United States. CRI is the source for science-based information and insight into how carpet and rugs can create a better environment — for living, working, learning and healing. For more information, visit the CRI Blog.