Jackie Thompson
Every year discarded carpets contribute approximately 4 billion pounds of waste to American landfills. In an attempt to curb this, many waste management facilities are encouraging people to reclaim carpets to put to good use in their homes and office spaces. Unfortunately, many would-be carpet reclaimers are unnerved by the sight of filthy, damaged carpets. All hope is not lost, however, Luckily, most pre-loved and discarded carpets can be brought back to life with a decent amount of TLC. As long as you know how to clean a carpet, take special care with antiques, and re-fluff a carpet you can turn your waste center finds into beautiful and purposeful treasures.
Clean with Care
Very often all a carpet needs to make it look almost like new again, is a good clean. Start the cleaning process by giving your carpet a good vacuum. There are many quality carpet cleaning agents in the market that will make the job at hand a lot easier. You can also make your own carpet cleaner by diluting one cup of ammonia with a quarter cup of water. While this may not remove very stubborn stains, it will leave your carpet looking a lot cleaner overall. When using a solution that contains ammonia, always test it out on a small area of the carpet first to make sure it does not ruin the colors.
Take Special Care of Antiques
If you are fortunate enough to get your hands on a discarded antique rug, you need to take special caution when restoring it to its former glory. Rid your antique carpet of dust and debris by using the vacuum cleaner on a low setting or using a cane beater. Make sure you turn the rug over to vacuum the bottom as well. As with any other carpet or rug, you need to test your antique for color fastness before washing it. The easiest way to do it is by applying a bit of your carpet cleaner on a damp white cloth and gently rubbing a spot on the rug to see if the color comes off. If your rug passes the color test, you can commence by giving it a good yet gentle wash before hanging it up to dry.
Re-Fluff as Required
Once a carpet has been cleaned it might still need to be re-fluffed. There are various methods you can employ to achieve the desired results. Carpet brushes and rakes can both be used on carpets with tall naps. Brushing the entire carpet will not only re-fluff it, but help release trapped dirt as well. If the carpet is not matted and just needs to be fluffed a bit, using the vacuum cleaner on a strong setting may also suffice. Alternatively, you can wet a washcloth or small towel and wring out all the water. Place it on the areas of the carpet or rug that needs attention and iron over it with a steam iron. Re-wet the cloth or towel as needed until the fibers on the entire carpet or rug are standing up again.
Carpets pose a huge problem to the U.S. waste management system. By claiming discarded carpets and restoring them, much fewer carpets will end up in the country’s landfills.