How To Get Mud Out Of Your Carpet?
April showers might bring May flowers, but they can also bring household messes! Wet ground means a greater chance that mud will get tracked into your home on rainy days. And if you have carpeting, it can be a challenge to clean. Here’s what you need to know if someone — or a four-legged friend — tracks onto your carpet this spring.
LET IT DRY
The first step in cleaning up a mud stain is to simply let the mud dry. If you’re in a hurry, using an electric fan in the area can speed up the drying process. Once most of the moisture has been removed from the dirt, you should be able to vacuum at least part of the mess. If mud is still stuck to the carpet fibers, use a spoon to loosen additional particles and then vacuum again.
USE DISH DETERGENT
Once you have removed as much of the dirt as possible with a vacuum, mix two cups of warm water with a tablespoon of liquid dish detergent. Sponge the stain and blot it dry until all the liquid is absorbed. You’ll want to make sure to use a white cloth for this step so that you don’t risk color from the cloth transferring to the carpet, especially if your carpet is a light color! You might also need to repeat this step a few times until you are able to completely remove the stain. When you’ve finally removed all the mud, sponge some cold water onto the area and blot it dry.
REMOVE PET ODOR
If your pet was the culprit who tracked in the mud, there’s a good chance that pet odors or other smells from the outdoors came into the home as well. Even if you clean up the stain from the mud, those odors may linger and make your home smell unpleasant. Like many other stains, mud and its accompanying odors often respond well to vinegar or baking soda. Try mixing equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Apply the solution to the stained area and blot it dry. The vinegar will kill any odor-causing bacteria in the carpet, and the vinegar aroma itself will disappear quickly. If you still notice odors, try sprinkling some baking soda on the area. Just as baking soda eliminates odors in the fridge, it can help remove odors from the outdoors that might have been dragged inside with the mud.
NEED NEW CARPET? TURN TO the experts...
Goshen Floor Mart has more than 25 years experience in the flooring industry. Our qualified professionals can can provide expert advice on how to care for carpeting, wood and laminate. We also provide free estimates when the time comes to replace the flooring in your home. Visit our showroom at 65669 U.S. 33 to browse our carpet inventory or call 574.642.4770 to chat with a flooring expert!
If you're in the market for flooring feel free to contact Goshen Floor Mart. Remember, we are always happy to provide you with a free estimate. Call us today at 574.642.4770 or contact us here