Need to do some spring carpet cleaning?

No matter how careful you are, over the winter, you and your boots may have collected lots of dirt, sand, salt, and grime. You probably tracked that inside — and now it’s in your carpets!

It’s not good for your home and, if you’re a renter it could mean you’re at risk of losing a security deposit.

Doing a thorough spring carpet cleaning to get rid of dirt and  salt stains can be a big job.If it seems too big to handle on your own, don’t be afraid to call in backup. 

Intek is ready to tackle the biggest stains with a variety of service options for carpet cleaning in Sioux Falls.

Whether you’re tackling it on your own, or need to schedule a carpet cleaning, here are the four steps it takes to get those nasty salt stains out.

family enjoying clean carpet in sioux falls

4 Steps to Getting Winter Salt Stains Out of Your Carpet

Step One: Figure out how big the job is.

Are the stains located in one place, or did all of your carpet get discolored?

If there are a few spots, you can most likely treat it with a simple vinegar-and-water-solution. If the whole place took a winter-sized beating, a deeper cleaning method like steam cleaning might be just what you need.

Step Two: Find a time and gather supplies.

It’s best to tackle this project on a day where you can give your carpet lots of time to dry without worrying about people walking on it. If you’re going the steam cleaning route, you may also need all night for it to dry.

For winter salt stain spot cleaning, grab:

  • A good vacuum
  • Spray bottle
  • White vinegar
  • Some essential oils or orange peels (optional)
  • A clean sponge

For a deep clean, you’ll need:

  • A carpet cleaner (you can rent these per day at most hardware or grocery stores)
  • A spot cleaner such as vinegar
  • Cleaning solution (or you could use white vinegar again)
  • A friend to help you move furniture
  • A good vacuum

Step Three: Get those salt stains out!

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Your carpet will need a thorough vacuuming before you tackle those stains.

It’s worth your time to vacuum in a few different directions and do so slowly. You may need to empty the vacuum a few times as you go along, but that’s a good sign!

Once you’ve gotten that done, attack spot stains with a vinegar solution. Fill a spray bottle with 50% white vinegar and 50% warm water and spray that mixture on the stain. (If the vinegar smell bothers you, feel free to add in some orange peels or some essential oils like tea tree.)

Let it sit on the carpet for 15 to 20 minutes. That gives the vinegar enough time to break down the salt. Then, take a clean sponge to the area and blot or lightly scrub to clean up the salt residue.

If the salt stain persists, go ahead and re-apply the vinegar solution and let it sit for another 15 to 20 minutes, and blot or lightly scrub once more.

Step Four: Get Ready for the Deep Clean.

If a large area of the floor took a beating, get out the heavy-duty equipment. Here are a few things you should know before renting and using a steam cleaner:

  • You pay by the day to rent a steam cleaner, so make sure you get it when you need it.
  • The cleaning solution is always sold separately. (Tip: If you or someone in your home is sensitive to chemicals, you could sidestep the cleaner and use one cup of white vinegar instead.)
  • It’s a good idea to do a spot test on a piece of carpet that’s normally covered with furniture before you clean the rest of the room.
  • When you rent a carpet cleaner, the company might want you to return the cleaner with the water tank still full — that way they can dispose of the water properly. You can’t just pour the used water down the drain — there are too many chemicals in there!
  • These things can get heavy. You’ll have to carry it while the tank is full of water, and it’ll be even heavier then! So make sure you can handle carrying it.

That might seem like a lot to think about, but don’t worry. Intek carpet cleaning is always ready to lend a hand if you need us to0.

Ready to tackle the job? Here are some more tips to get it done right:

  • Move all of the furniture out of the room before you begin.
  • Clean the room starting at the point furthest from the door, backing up so that the last place you clean is the spot right by the door. That way you don’t box yourself into a corner and have to walk over the clean carpet to get out of the room!
  • Make sure to mix the right ratio of water to cleaner. You can find that info on the cleaner’s label. If you opted to use white vinegar, just add half a cup.
  • If you get done and the carpet doesn’t look clean enough, give it a few hours and then go over it again with the steam cleaner.
  • Make sure to open doors and windows, to dry the carpet and help air out any chemical or vinegar smell.

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It’s Time for Carpet Cleaning in Sioux Falls

It might be an all-day project, but it’s well worth it. Your carpet will look awesome and you won’t risk tracking any loose salt or dirt into the rest of your house!

Want to free up your schedule a bit? Let us tackle the cleaning for you! We can get it done while you’re out for the day checking other things off of your to-do list. 

Get in touch to talk about how we can lend a hand and see which carpet cleaning package is best for you!

Ask Us About Sioux Falls Carpet Cleaning