13 Carpet Cleaning Hacks We Bet You Don’t Know

General Stains

8. Iron It Out

If you have a general stain, something we haven’t covered in our specifics section, then there are still solutions. One of our favourites is a simple three-step method, that we’ve had quite good results with. First, vacuum around the stained area to get rid of any hard sections of the stain. Then, treat the area with a 3:1 mixture of water and vinegar, allowing it to soak into the fibres. Last, pop a towel on top of the stain and apply a nice hot iron to the area. The pressure, and the heat, can transfer the stain off your carpet, and onto the towel. Clever!

9. Blot Only

While we tend to be fond of the act of rubbing to get rid of stains, this is probably the worst thing you can do with carpet. When we rub on a stain, we not only risk spreading the stain to the surrounding carpet, we might also be unintentionally working it further into the fibres. Instead, try blotting at the stain. Blotting applies pressure to the spot and allows the stain to be drawn up into the cloth you’re blotting with. Also remember to always blot from the outside to the inside, again to prevent spreading.

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Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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