by James Prathap

Keeping your house safe and germ-free entails regular cleaning. Besides getting rid of dust, dirt, and grime, cleaning also results in controlling pests such as mosquitoes, moths, bedbugs, and disease-causing microorganisms.

With the emergence of the fast-spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, cleaning has become even more crucial for helping maintain health at home. Even just looking at front doors for sale, can make a huge improvement.

Like other pathogens, this virus strain can thrive for days on specific surfaces in your home. Of course, how long it will survive depends on the type of surface in question. Factors like humidity, temperature, and the porosity of surfaces also affect its infectious lifespan.

For most viruses, cold and dry places are the most hospitable environment. And while fabrics used for upholstery and carpets are less hospitable to the SARS-COV-2 virus compared to steel, plastic, and other solid surfaces, the use of air-conditioning may change that.

Considering the speed at which the virus spreads, knowing the proper way to perform carpet cleaning and cleaning upholstery is imperative. Of course, there’s also pet hair, dirt, grime, stains, and all sorts of stuff you have to get rid of as well.

So, roll up your sleeves for these seven textile cleaning tips experienced homeowners and fabric experts swear by:

1. Remove anything that can be removed

Before you can start banishing pathogens, dirt, and pests, you must first do something about the furniture. Before deep cleaning your carpet, move furniture, appliances, and everything else placed on it first.

Clearing the area allows for more thorough cleaning, as it lets you get even to the nooks and crannies you don’t normally see every day.

For pieces that cannot be relocated, protect them from damage by putting plastic covering underneath the legs. This should prevent rusting on the metal frames and staining on the wood varnish when the carpet is soaked during disinfection.

2. Vacuum thoroughly

The next thing you need to do when cleaning a carpet is to vacuum it thoroughly. This should be done before disinfection and after you clear the area of furniture.

Vacuuming can help remove dirt, dust, and soil, but only if you do it properly.

Pass the vacuum over every square foot of the area slowly to make sure all the dirt, dust, and other debris are picked up from the carpet fibers. You also need to adjust the frequency of vacuuming from weekly to daily for areas with higher traffic.

Vacuum behind and underneath furniture that cannot be removed. Lift these up, if possible.

For best results, vacuum before and after you dust an area to ensure that no debris catches on to the carpet from cleaning the windows and other parts of the house.

3. Run a lint roller over it

Besides dirt, crud, crumbs, and other debris, you also need to get rid of hair from your carpeted flooring. If you feel that your vacuum isn’t catching them all, it may be high time for you to bring out the lint roller.

With some elbow grease and a lint roller bigger than what you use on your clothes, you should be able to solve your hairy floor problem. Of course, the time it takes to cover the entire area will depend on the type of carpet you have. In some cases, you may not need more than five minutes to do this task.

4. Use a squeegee for pet hair

Besides your own hair on the carpet, you might also experience a bit of trouble removing pet hair from the cushions, sofa, and other upholstered furniture. In some cases, lint rollers may not be as effective if you live with a shedding pet. Plus, despite our best efforts, pets can bring in unwanted visitors in the form of fleas and ticks, which could lead to a need for a Pest Control service to come out and rid your home of an infestation. Getting to grips with how to remove pet hair, therefore, is crucial, although some struggle with this for a whole host of reasons, whether that's the quantity of hair, type of carpet, or a combination of reasons.

If this is the case, what you need is a squeegee.

While this cleaning tool is originally made to get rid of gunk on windows and glass surfaces, it is actually a great tool for dislodging short pet hair.

To use, start by watering the squeegee. Then use it on your sofa as you normally would on a window. Once the pet hairs are gathered in a pile, remove them and throw them away.

5. Rub, don’t blot

When you see dirt, your instinct would probably tell you to rub it away immediately. But this is actually counterproductive when it comes to carpets and upholstery.

Unlike your shoes or the dishes, staining can persist on sheets and other fabrics when you rub it. This is especially true for high-density carpets. The worst part is that you will not only fail to remove it, but you might make matters worse by spreading and working the stain into the fibers of the carpet when you rub.

Instead, blot stains away using a clean cloth or a sponge. With the pressure applied during blotting, the stain is absorbed into your cleaning material. This can be done regardless of the type of cleaning product you use.

You should also pay attention to the direction as you blot the area in. Make sure you blot inward to prevent the stain from spreading further out from the spot that’s already affected.

6. Iron out stains

Spilled your favorite wine on your carpet? Expect it to be a pain to remove.

That is, unless you have the collective knowledge and willpower of homeowners in your arsenal. After years and years of dealing with stains, some people have been able to devise an effective way to get rid of wine or other stains using items you probably already have at home.

Below are three steps you can follow when removing stains:

• Start by vacuuming the stained area to remove solid particles. This should allow you to focus on the stain later on.

• Next, treat the affected area with a three-to-one water-and-vinegar mixture. Let it work its way into the fabric for about five minutes.

• Then, place a cleaning cloth or towel on top of the area and use a heated iron on it. The heat and pressure would cause the stain to transfer onto the towel and away from the textile.

7. Use the right disinfectant

Disinfecting and cleaning are two entirely different processes. While the latter gets rid of visible dirt and grime, the former ensures that the space is free of harmful microorganisms that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

When choosing a disinfectant, factor in the type of viruses you intend to banish.

For the SARS-CoV-2 virus, be sure to use products that have been approved to be effective against the pathogen. Besides verifying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) N List, you can also check the product label if it is effective against human coronaviruses.

Of course, buying the right product is only half of it. You also need to use it correctly. And in order to do that, you must follow the instructions indicated in the product packaging.

Clear away dirt and germs

Getting rid of dirt and germs from carpets and other fabrics is different from the process done on solid surfaces. If you follow the tips listed in this article or enlist the services of a company that provides comprehensive Carpet Cleaning solutions, you should be able to succeed in keeping your home squeaky clean and safe from the threat of COVID-19.

AUTHOR BIO

James Prathap is the General Manager at NGC Nafees, one of the leading distributors of wallpapers, floorings, and fabrics in the Middle East and South Asia. Formed three decades ago, the business also offers high-quality panoramics, coordinated fabrics, and creative stickers for residential and commercial projects.