The indoor or outdoor carpet presents a professional appearance to guests or clients who visit the home. All day long, the indoor/outdoor carpet receives foot traffic, causing stains and discoloration. Glued carpets come with a cozy feeling beneath your feet, but sometimes, comfort comes with disadvantages. Since they are glued down, you may not know how to clean the indoor or outdoor carpet.
In this article, I will discuss how to clean glued indoor or outdoor carpets. This article highlights all the equipment or items you will need and a step-by-step guide to help you out.
How to clean indoor or outdoor carpet that is glued down – What you’ll need
You will need the following;
- Vacuum cleaner for carpet
- Pump sprayer
- Cleaning solution
- Steam cleaner
- Shampoo (optional)
- Air movers
Cleaning the carpet – A step-by-step guide
Step 1: Pick any pet hair from the carpet
Before cleaning the indoor or outdoor carpet, you may want to remove anything that would get in your way. Specifically, pick up any pet hair from the carpet that may affect the vacuum.
Step 2: Vacuum the carpet
After getting rid of all pet hairs on the carpet, start to vacuum the carpet. Remember carpet receives a lot of dust and dirt; you will want to get as much out of the way as possible before you start cleaning.
I recommend using Sharp APEX or any other high-quality vacuum with a HEPA filter. They work best to get tiny particles and dust out of the carpet. The trick is to vacuum slowly and effectively. Ensure you cover every inch of the carpet. This includes; under the chairs, desks, and benches, if any.
Step 3: Apply the cleaning solution using a pump sprayer
Pour the cleaning solution into the pump sprayer and mix properly. The solution helps to loosen up the grease, stains, and ground-in soil in the carpet. Making it easier to clean. You do not want the entire carpet soaked; you need enough to cover the entire carpet. Once this is done, allow the solution to sit for 10 – 15 minutes before you enter the next step.
Step 4: Steam the indoor or outdoor carpet
Next, use a steam cleaner to treat every inch of the carpet. You may want to hold back on the level of heat. It is best to use warm water as excess heat may affect the adhesive used to glue down the carpet.
If there is a tough spot on the carpet that needs special attention, use a handheld carpet brush to scrub the area gently. This will help loosen it a bit so the solution can work better.
Step 5: Use shampoo for tough stains (optional)
You can use shampoo on the affected area if there are particularly stubborn stains or discoloration. I recommend using a pH 7 shampoo as it works best and will keep your carpet looking bright, plush, and lustrous.
Step 6: Dry the carpet
Drying the carpet can be somewhat tricky. Many use a ceiling fan to achieve this, while others use air movers. Both are viable and will get the job done perfectly.
However, it would be best to refrain from drying, which will generate too much heat. It would make the drying process faster, but the fiber’s texture may be damaged in the process.
FAQs
How often should you clean indoor or outdoor carpet that is glued?
It mainly depends on the amount of foot traffic the carpet receives. If the carpet gets little or light foot traffic, you should clean it at least once a year. But if the carpet gets heavy foot traffic, it should be cleaned thrice yearly.
Can you clean a flooded indoor or outdoor carpet that is glued?
Yes, you can. However, if the flood water contains grey water, the moisture must be removed before cleaning it. This is done using carpet water extraction equipment.
Conclusion
Periodic maintenance of the indoor or outdoor carpet will go a long way toward extending its lifespan. However, it must be done just right so you do not ruin the texture or appearance of your carpet.
This article highlights all the equipment or items needed to achieve this. In addition, a detailed step-by-step guide to help you get the best result possible.
You may also encounter other issues in your residence, e.g., a faulty air conditioner. See this article on air conditioners to determine the causes and how to fix yours.
Thanks for reading.