It’s summer time and there’s so much going on. Everywhere our technicians go in London, Kent and Surrey, they’re seeing signs for summer festivals, fun days, carnivals and picnics.

 

It’s great that so many people spend time and effort to bring us together to have fun – even if holding the events outdoors can be a bit optimistic!  But no matter if rain comes down on the day… it’s clear that our sense of community is thriving.

 

But it can be difficult to leave the great outdoors outside – where it belongs.  Grass stains have a way of finding their way into your home – via children, pets and everyone’s shoes and clothes…. straight onto our carefully-chosen rugs and carpets.  And of course if it does rain, things are worse still… the mud gets everywhere.

 

Grass stains and mud stains are two very different things. They need two very different response – so here are Carpet Bright UK’s tips on how to deal with this gruesome twosome.

How to remove grass stains.

Grass contains chlorophyll, the lovely pigment that gives it its green colour. But unfortunately, chlorophyll is also a very effective dye, especially for natural fabrics like cotton, wool, linen, and silk. Chlorophyll soaks into the fabric’s fibres rather than sitting on top, so the longer the stain sits, the harder it will be to treat. Deal with grass stains immediately and while they are still wet for best results.

• first of all – grab the suction tool on your vacuum cleaner and use it on the stain. Warning: don’t just vacuum the mark or it will sink further in.
• dampen a clean light coloured towel or paper towels with cool water. Gently blot the grass stain without rubbing or scrubbing
• go on blotting until you are not lifting any more grass stain out of the carpet
• mix 2 teaspoons of mild detergent soap with lukewarm water
• dampen a clean towel with the detergent solution.  Blot the satin until you can’t lift any more of the grass stain. It might be gone completely by now, but if you can still see, it, proceed to the next step
• for more serious stains you can use either rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, or banana oil.  Do NOT apply ammonia or degreaser to grass stains.  As with any stain treatment, always test your treatment on a sample of carpet or inconspicuous area to prevent staining or fading.

How to remove mud stains

Here the first step is the very opposite.

• Let the mud dry.  It will be much easier to remove, and you want to avoid rubbing it deeper into your carpet’s fibres  If the mud is VERY wet, you can blot gently with a towel to prevent the moisture from soaking unto the carpet pad – but it’s much better to simply allow the mud to dry
• Now that the mud is dry, slowly vacuum the affected area to remove the dirt.  Vacuuming slowly will remove more of it, so keep going for two or three times longer than you normally would.  Make at least 16 passes over the muddy area, moving the cleaner in all directions
• Now it’s time to move on to a detergent solution.  Mix one-teaspoon of detergent into one cup of lukewarm water
• use a white cloth to blot the solution onto the carpet. (Or any pale colour will do: this will allow you to see the stain lifting
• continue blotting until the stain is gone
• gently dry the area with a clean cloth or paper towels

 

To keep your rugs and carpets clean, fresh and bright all year round, give Carpet Bright UK a call. Our professional technicians have the skills and know-how to deep-clean your carpets and upholstery cleaning in London, and regular cleans will extend the life of your valuable investments, keeping your home healthy and hygienic for the whole family.

 

Carpet Bright UK is the fast, professional solution to all your carpet cleaning needs. To find out more or to speak to a London Carpet Cleaner in your area, call 020 3011 5590