Mix one part white vinegar with three parts water and use a sponge to clean the stains from your carpet.
How to freshen up your rug.
Freshen up with some baking soda.
Then flip it over to let the bottom side dry.
Let it air dry out of direct sunlight and vacuum.
However be careful as it may bleach your carpet.
Next add your favorite herbal scent or essential oils and sprinkle on your rug.
When it s clean it s time to roll it up carefully and take the rug outside to your cleaning station.
Lay the rug flat and allow the top of the rug to dry completely.
If your rug is tagged with specific cleaning instructions follow those.
Run a vacuum or a clean soft bristled brush over your area rug to loosen up the fibers of the rug as they may have compacted during the washing drying process.
To make your own carpet deodorizer combine one cup of baking soda with 1 2 cup cornstarch.
How often should you clean a rug.
Next sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda on the carpet and let it sit for 10 minutes.
You ll need around one box of baking soda per 10 by 10.
I prefer to sprinkle lavender flowers from the garden into my homemade carpet freshener but using eucalyptus or citronella oils will get fleas hopping just before vacuuming.
Let the rug dry.
Vacuuming your rugs every couple of weeks will prevent a buildup of dirt which can lead to tricky stains.
Then return your rug to the room.
Once the rug has dried completely use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum the rug to loosen up the carpet fibers of the rug as they have probably become compacted during the cleaning process.
Prop it up at the station with the right side facing you.
For tough stains you might want to use hydrogen peroxide directly applied to improve the cleaning effect.
If your rug is still dusty at this stage you can take a page out of the old frontier book and beat it with a broom handle or similar tool to knock even more dust out.
Area rugs are a great way to add warmth and personality to your decor but after prolonged use they will need a good cleaning to look like new.