The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are starting to change colors, summer is winding down, and the kids have started another great school year. Everyone is excited for the new changes, classes, teachers, and friends. Kids are coming home with lots of stories, lots of homework, lots of papers, and…lots of dirt. This dirt is creeping into our homes and into our carpets. It’s coming from their shoes, backpacks, the playground, and many other unsuspecting places.
Before you panic about the new onslaught of dust, grime, crumbs, crayons, and art supplies entering your home and your carpet, remember most carpets can handle a little bit of dirt. If carpets are cleaned consistently and spills are taken care of immediately, most carpets will be just fine. With a little bit of elbow grease, even the toughest stains can be removed. Let’s cover just a few of the most common back-to-school dirt and spill scenarios and how to effectively take care of them.
DIRT
Dirt is the most common carpet irritant. It comes from virtually everywhere. You can’t avoid dirt, especially the dirt kids bring home from school. During the rainy season, they also bring home dirt’s best friend…mud. Tracking mud and dirt into your home can cause serious damage to your carpets. Removing shoes before entering the house is the best way to avoid dirt and mud seeping into carpet fibers. If it does get tracked in, allow the dirt or mud to dry before trying to clean it up. Vacuum the dry particles and then use a simple vinegar solution or water to blot out the remaining dirt.
CRAYONS
Every elementary student has crayons. While they are great for art projects, they aren’t so great in carpet. Crayons tend to be left out and stepped on. Bits of waxy colors can get into carpet fibers, leaving unwanted color. To get crayon out of carpet, first vacuum the loose pieces first. Then, cover the colored stain with a clean white cloth. Using the tip of a warm iron, gently press on the cloth. Repeat this process using a clean part of the cloth until all the wax has transferred to the cloth. Sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent if any color remains.
“WASHABLE” PAINT OR WATERCOLOR
You may think you’re safe if your kids only use “washable” paints. Unfortunately, even “washable” paints and watercolor wash cups can leave marks and dark spots on your carpet. If you encounter this type of spill, use warm water and a clean, white towel to blot out the dark spot. You may need to blot the spot multiple times before it comes clean. Avoid using a scrubbing motion or any type of scrub brush. Continual scrubbing and harsh bristles can damage carpet fibers and cause the color to seep further into the carpet.
STICKY OR PERMANENT SUBSTANCES
Unfortunately, there are some substances that do not easily come out of carpet fibers. If you feel it’s a stain that could be difficult to remove or cause permanent damage to your carpets, contact Baker’s Chem-Dry today. Our professional carpet cleaners are experts at removing even the toughest spills and stains and will get your carpets looking clean in no time!
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