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Berber carpets have a special appeal thanks to its looping design and unique patterns, however, those very same loops can also allow dirt to build up over time. Still, the tight loops in Berber carpets aren’t all for show, because they are often bound to only allow shallow nudges that are easy to clean sweep or vacuum. As a result, it all evens out. And cleaning them can as simple as the steps we are listing below.
Outline
Cleaning Your Berber Carpet at Home
Compared to other types of carpet, Berber carpets doesn’t require too many intricate cleaning methods and tools. In fact, you can maintain the carpet using homemade ingredients and equipment that you likely already have at your disposal.
Use Vacuum Cleaner for Standard Cleaning
We start with the obvious and arguably most convenient option, which is a vacuum cleaner. Albeit, you should never use a vacuum with a beater bar attached when cleaning your Berber carpet, since the loops can get caught in the beater and deform your rug permanently.
Vacuum cleaner is the most effective way to maintain Berber carpets and prevent dirt build up since the tight loops can keep most debris on surface level. So, if you can regularly vacuum your rug once or twice a week, you’re already doing much the work in keeping it clean and preventing damage.
Use Baking Soda or Club Soda to Remove Stain and Odor
Baking soda is as close to an all-purpose cleaning agent as you can get at home. Therefore, you can use it to remove stain and odor on Berber carpet just the same. In some cases, you can even use it directly to remove the smear if the spot is fresh, which means you won’t be needing a cleaning agent or another homemade solution to break down the stain.
To use baking soda:
1. Cover the spill with baking soda.
2. Let the baking soda absorb the moisture. Let it sit for around 30 seconds or longer.
3. Vacuum the baking soda particles.
4. Repeat the process until leftover blemish has been fully removed.
In general, baking soda is great for removing oil-based stains like cooking oil, grease, makeup and peanut butter. On the other hand, club soda is perfect for neutralizing the color of the smudge or in removing alcohol-based or other liquid blemish.
Use White Vinegar Solution for Tougher Stains
White vinegar works best on water-soluble stains, but not for alcohol-infused stains like wine. Since white vinegar solution is a stronger agent, it’s typically used in Berber carpets if cold water treatment alone is unsuccessful.
To use white vinegar solution:
1. Prepare the white vinegar solution.
2. Test in on a small area for possible discoloration side effect.
3. Put the solution in an empty spray bottle.
4. Use the spray to spread the mixture evenly on the affected surface
You can easily prepare the white vinegar solution by mixing one part white vinegar and five parts water.
Use Ice Cubes to Fix Dents on Berber Carpets
This comes across as a crazy concept, but dampening the dents on your Berber carpet with ice cube can help return the carpet to its original form. This is possible because the fibers soak up the water and fluff up, which eventually returns them to their normal height and form. You can use as many ice cubes as you want until you get the desired results.
For excess water, you may blot the residue with cloth or paper towel. Also, avoid scrubbing or rubbing the surface in order to preserve the fibers. To accelerate the process, you may gently use a fork to lift the dented spots on your Berber carpet.
Deep Cleaning Your Berber Carpet
Deep cleaning your Berber carpet at least once every two months can go a long way in maintaining its form and quality. You can choose to steam, dry clean or leave the Berber to a professional carpet cleaning service to facilitate the deep cleaning.
Steam Cleaning for Your Berber Carpet
You can do this process yourself if you have a steam cleaner and vacuum at home. Here’s an overview of how it works.
1. Prepare the carpet. Vacuum the surface and spot clean the stains.
2. Follow the manufacturer’s set instruction to set up and operate the steam cleaner.
3. Slowly pull the machine over the carpet. Go over each area of the carpet once to prevent oversaturating the stain with the hot steam.
4. Once the Berber has been thoroughly steamed, dry it using the vacuum cleaner to ensure that no moisture will be trapped in the surface.
5. Open the windows or leave a fan beside the carpet until it’s fully air dried.
Alternatively, you may rent a steam cleaner at a local shop whenever it’s time to deep clean your Berber carpet.
Dry Cleaning for Your Berber Carpet
Dry cleaning is more ideal and viable DIY solution for homeowners who wish to manually deep clean their Berber carpet. For this, you will need a special dry cleaning powder that will be applied to the surface of your carpet.
1. Vacuum the carpet to prepare it for dry cleaning and draw moisture out.
2. Sprinkle the dry cleaning powder. Pay extra attention to stained areas in your carpet.
3. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to determine how long you should let the powder sit in order for it to treat the stain and pull the dirt buildup to the surface. In most cases, you may be asked to leave the powder for 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Look for instructions if additional attachments are required for vacuuming the dry powder. Once you’re set, vacuum the surface thoroughly.
If you’re wondering how it works, the dry powder includes antiseptic capabilities that allows it to clean troubled spots and draw out tough stains and debris embedded in the carpet. This method is highly recommended for Berber since it the material doesn’t take water well and typically takes too long to dry, which can create a window for mold and mildew to grow.
Hire a Professional to Deep Clean the Carpet
If your rug has deep and overwhelming stains, or you feel troubled or uncomfortable doing the deep cleaning by yourself, then hiring a professional to work on your Berber centerpiece might be a better idea.
Final Thoughts on Berber Carpet Cleaning and Maintenance
Berber carpet is one of the easier rugs to clean at home, although getting it right the first time can present quite the challenge since the carpet’s surface sports a different design than what most of us are accustomed to.
The good news is that the carpet itself is relatively easy to maintain, since it only needs at least one vacuuming each week if it isn’t receiving excess foot traffic. If it’s lesser, then you can even set the activity to once or twice a month.
