Check sites like
Home Advisor
that vets local
experts. Or
Detroit Rug
Restoration
(detroitrug
restoration.com)
sends a prepaid
sleeve to mail in
your rug. They
offer repair
services too.I HAVE
AREA
RUGS
44 | April 2019
Carpets can
hold onto indoor
air pollutants,
so using a pro
to deep clean
at least every
18–24 months can
remove allergens
in addition to
dirt and stains.
Another pro pro:
They usually help
move furniture.PERSONALIZED APPROACH
CARPET
Choose your flooring adventure.Smallin uses
a DIY steam
technique: Spray
the stain with
3% hydrogen
peroxide. Cover
with a damp
white towel and
iron on lowest
steam setting
at 10-second
intervals until
stain transfers
to towel. Spray
again. Cover
with a dry towel
held down with
something heavy.
Let dry overnight.IT COULD
BE
ANYTHING
Blot, blot, blot
with a clean cloth
and water. For
stubborn stains,
Donna Smallin,
author of Clear
the Clutter, Find
Happiness, uses
Spot Shot ($5;
truevalue.com).
“It doesn’t leave
a residue that
attracts dust or
dirt to itself. ”THE
STAIN IS
FRESH
I WANT
TO HIRE
A PRO
I HAVE
WALL-TO-
WALL
CARPET
I’LL
TACKLE
IT
MYSELF
Run your
vacuum slowly
in alternate
directions over
carpets to pull
up maximum dirt.
Hit area rugs,
too, but turn off
the bristles for
suction only. New
shampooers are
increasingly user-
friendly and offer
fast dry times,
making them a
good investment
if you have lots
of carpeting or it
gets high traffic.Simply hover
your smartphone
camera over this
smart code for
more tips on
cleaning carpets
like a pro.Throw
them in the
dryer with a
damp cloth
and wool
dryer balls.and pet hair.[REFRESH]
CURTAINS
It vacuums and
washes multiple
surfaces, including
area rugs.
CrossWave Pet
Pro Multi-Surface
Wet Dry Vacuum,
$320; bissell.comJOIN THE
OTHER 7 PERCENT
AND START
WITH THE BED.
“Dirt and dust get
trapped under
there,” Neukirchen
says. “I pull out the
bed from the wall
and vacuum or use
a microfiber mop.“
FOR THE MATTRESS
Vacuum with
the upholstery
attachment (small
head, no bristles)PERCENT
OF PEOPLE
SKIP DEEP
CLEANING
THEIR
BEDROOM.
Pets, kids, or
a warranty
may demand
more
frequent
cleanings.IN GOOD
TIME
SO
UR
CE
:^ “C
LE
AN
ING
A
RO
UN
D^ T
HE
H
OM
E,”
20
18
NA
TIO
NA
L^ C
LE
AN
IN
G^
SU
RV
EY
BY
TH
E^ A
ME
RIC
AN
C
LE
AN
IN
G^
IN
ST
ITU
TE
UNCLEANABLE
CUSHIONS
Upholstery that unzips for a spin
in the washer is what dreams are
made of. For everything else:
Whisk 2 cups water, 3 Tbsp. dish soap, and 3 Tbsp.
vinegar into a foam. Apply the foam from
edge to edge across the cushion, then wipe off with
a cloth. “The foam application prevents
water droplet spots,” says Courtenay Hartford,
author of The Cleaning Ninja.