How to Clean Carpets the Eco-Friendly Way
The obvious solution to cleaning carpets without chemicals is to blot the stain up before it has time to settle in; however many times we do not notice a spill or accident until it has become one with our carpeting. If you have a juice, wine, coffee, or any other dye-based spill try using club soda on the spill. Pour enough club soda to wet the stain, but not soak the carpeting and let it sit for approximately 5-10 minutes. Finally, blot the stain with a towel and repeat as necessary. Stubborn stains may take a couple of tries until completely gone. Borax makes a great alternative to club soda, and works wonders for removing stains when mixed to create a paste. Ice is something many of us have on hand at all times, and while it is great for cooling down drinks or putting down someone’s shirt; it can also be used to remove gum, glue, candle wax, and many other wax based substances. Just hold the ice cube on the substance until it hardens, then pick the substance up with ease. It may take several ice cubes or tries before the substance is hard enough to remove with fingers.
Grease is great for automobiles but not so great for carpeting, and many times, it will stay in our carpets forever. There was a time when we would cover the grease stain with a rug or piece of furniture; however, we can sometimes remove the stain with a simple sprinkling of cornstarch. Sprinkle the cornstarch on the grease stain and let it sit, preferably over night. In the morning vacuum the cornstarch up and the stain should come with it. Another alternative to cornstarch is to use baking soda. Baking soda works in the same manner, and removes any odor left by the stain.
Speaking of odors, a great trick for removing odors from your carpet without chemicals is to use baking soda. Sprinkle the baking soda across your carpet, adding a heavier amount to areas where odors are strong. Let the baking soda sit for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight, depending upon the odor then vacuum. White vinegar diluted with water works great removing pet odors; however, vinegar does not have the most pleasant aroma. An alternative to vinegar is Borax, I recommend the 20 Mule Team, as it is non-toxic. The borax works the same as the baking soda, just sprinkle it down, and then vacuum. I do not recommend leaving the borax on for an extended period as it does become difficult to vacuum up when left on too long.
An alternative way to remove odors from your carpets is to create a mixture of essential oils and baking soda. The recipes for this mixture vary, but I found mixing one drop of essential oil with a box of baking soda works best. Some recipes call for as much as twenty drops of essential oil, however I found that amount of oil was too much. It is important that you research the type of oil you would like to use, as some are harmful to the skin. Check with your local health store, or aromatherapy store to find out, which essential oils are best to use.
Hydrogen peroxide is a great alternative for cleaning pasta sauce stains, blood, red wine and other red-based stains out of carpeting. Always test a small area to make sure it does not “bleach” out the color from your carpeting, then use a cotton ball and dab the peroxide onto the stain. Let the peroxide sit for about 10 minutes, and then gently blot with warm water to remove the peroxide and the stain.
If you are insistent on using a product to clean your carpeting then I recommend the following:
1) Seventh Generation Carpet Spot and Stain Remover
The Seventh Generation Carpet Spot and Stain Remover works wonders for cleaning stains from carpeting. It is all natural, biodegradable, and non-toxic so you do not have to worry about exposure to harsh chemicals. Before using the product, blot up the stain with a cloth or towel; never rub the stain, as you will actually push it deeper into the carpeting. Spray the Carpet Spot and Stain Remover, and then let it sit. The time varies upon the depth of the stain, and whether it is ground into the carpet or not. Finally, blot the stain again to remove the Carpet Spot and Stain Remover, repeat if necessary.
2) BioKleen Carpet Kleen
A friend of mine swears by Carpet Kleen by a company named BioKleen. She informed me that their products are safe, natural, and environmentally friendly. They are non-toxic and do an excellent job in cleaning various areas. For tough stains, the BioKleen website recommends using their Pre-Spotter, then using the Carpet Kleen to clean the whole carpet. My friend has an older Bissell Carpet Cleaning Machine and she said that the Carpet Kleen works well with the machine. The BioKleen web site also states that the product is usable in all carpet cleaning machines.
In a perfect world, we would all have flooring that does not stain, and is easy to clean. However, for many of us that is not possible. The market today is focusing on environmentally friendly, green ways of cleaning without the use of chemicals. Obviously, there are ways to prevent stains, like removing your shoes and keeping kids off carpeted floors; but how realistic are those options? For many of us, they are not very realistic so we find ways to clean the stains without the use of chemicals. In conclusion, it is important to research any products fully and always perform a spot check before trying anything to make sure that the product will not remove the color from your carpeting.
