by Amanda Dcosta

Created on: February 16, 2009   Last Updated: July 25, 2010

Before we begin to analyse how to clean the spots and stains off the carpet, let's take a quick look at what a carpet is made of.

A carpet is made up of a layer or layers of woven, dyed, synthetic yarn sewn together , backed by a layer of latex and in many cases, has a final padding layer underneath to give the carpet an extra soft, cushioned feel.  Understanding the basics behind what a carpet is made of will help one clean a carpet with most ease.

In most cases, cleaning a carpet is similar to cleaning most fabrics, except that with a carpet, you cannot put it in the washer and have it cleaned. Yet some of the basic cleaning aids may be used on carpets too, except that cleaning has to be done manually.

For better ease of understanding cleaning techniques,  the cleaning process may be divided into

(a) domestic, and

(b) commercial requirement.

(a) Domestic Cleaning:

It is a common scene in everyone's home to have food spills, oil, sauces, wet mud, thick layers of sand from footwear and all forms of dirt line their carpet surface. Face it, something falling on the floor is inevitable, especially if you have kids in the house, or pets, or a houseful of guys come over for the weekend to watch football, throwing a beer party in your house.

One very important point to remember is that the use of door mats or rugs placed next to your front and back door can save your carpet from being soiled. Many rugs can be washed in the machine, especially that which do not have a latex lining, and hence these rugs, by your doors, can be real life savers.

In the accidental event of your carpet being soiled, the easiest way to save your carpet that embarrassing stain is to clean it off instantly. A stitch in time saves nine and so does cleaning your carpet in time.

In case of dry matter on the carpet, vacuum instantly if possible, or within a couple of hours. It becomes more difficult to clean later, especially if debris, dirt and dust particles get more embedded between the woven yarn strands. When mud happens to line your carpet, make sure it is first 'dry' before you brush it off or vacuum it.  If wet mud is allowed to remain on light coloured carpets for a very long time, one would notice slight rust-like stains on cleaning, indicative of slight iron component in the mud. This may be washed off with a damp cloth dipped in mild soap solution, lime juice and warm water. Similarly for stains like sauces, ketchup, gravies and soups that unfortunately make

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