Office flooring comes in many styles and materials, from bamboo and hardwood to marble and polished stone. But the number one choice for flooring for offices and retail establishments is carpeting, and for good reason. They’re soft, warm, and are easier to maintain than other floor types. All you need is regular vacuuming and the quarterly deep cleaning to keep your carpets looking their best.
But carpet maintenance can be challenging in a commercial environment. With dozens or even hundreds of people in one place, there’s bound to be a splash or spill here and there, not to mention whatever is stuck on the bottom of people’s shoes. That’s why lots of businesses retain commercial cleaning services.
If you want to keep your carpet looking like new, you’ve come to the right place.
1. Don’t rub stains
If you spill wine or coffee on the carpet, the worst thing you can do is to start scrubbing the stain. The scrubbing motion only drives the liquid down into the fiber and will make stain removal harder or even impossible. Instead, you need to dab the affected area with a clean cloth or sponge and some mild cleanser.
If done right, dabbing allows you to absorb most of the liquid without it spreading around. Rubbing introduces too much pressure and friction, which breaks down the liquid particles and makes it easier to seep into the material. Don’t forget to dab from the outer edges to the center. Dabbing outwards only spreads the stain.
2. Use carbonated water
The efficacy of carbonated water as a stain remover has been debunked time and again, but there might be a grain of truth to this common belief. If used correctly, you can use carbonated water to help remove wine and beer stains. While carbonated water alone isn’t enough to remove the stains completely, it can speed the process along.
Start by soaking a clean cloth in carbonated water and use it to dab the stain. After a few tries, the stain should look a bit lighter. Repeat the process until you can finish the stain removal with conventional cleaners. If carbonated water doesn’t work, use a solution of water and white vinegar instead. Spray the solution on the affected area and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Don’t let the carpet dry out and respray as necessary.
3. Apply ice to gum
One of the toughest carpet cleaning jobs is removing stuck gum. Once the gum sticks to the fibers, it will cling to the carpet and you won’t be able to scrape it off unless you apply cold temperature to the affected area.
Grab some ice from the freezer (the bigger, the better) and press it against the dried gunk for at least a minute. The goal is to freeze the gum until you can remove it by hand or a small tool. If the gum is still stuck to the fibers, use a razor or scissors to free it from the carpet.
Carpeting comes in many colors and materials, so some methods might not work for your particular carpet. Ask the carpet manufacturer for care instructions, and if all else fails, you can always rely on professional cleaners to get the job done.