How to remove slime from carpet?
How to remove slime from carpet and remove fresh stains from it? These questions regularly arise among parents who are faced with the problem of removing play mucus from the surface of interior items. This substance is distinguished by increased stickiness, leaves characteristic greasy traces, and often has a specific aroma. When deciding how to clean the dried slime from the carpet at home, it is not necessary to resort to radical measures, it is enough to choose a suitable recipe for the remedy, and then prepare it yourself.
How to remove fresh stains?
The mucous mass lends itself quite well to cleaning if the problem is noticed in time. In most cases, carpet slime can be cleaned with fresh marks with a minimum investment of time and effort. It is worth considering that cold slime generally does not tend to stick to surfaces, even if they are fuzzy and absorbent. When heated from contact with the human body, under the influence of heating devices or sunlight, a chemical reaction occurs in the slime. It becomes sticky, runny, and very dirty.
It is necessary to start removing a fresh slime stain on the carpet with mechanical effort. The sticky substance is scraped off with a stack or a construction knife, you can even take an ordinary metal spoon so as not to damage the long pile. You need to collect it from the edges to the center, excluding further smearing of the stain.
For fresh traces of slime, use a fairly delicate product. Harsh chemicals can be avoided by keeping the carpet pile fluffy. Among the available tools, several options can be noted.
- Hydrogen peroxide. Its medical solution must be applied to a cotton pad.The tool wipes the surface of the stain from the slime in the direction from the edges to the center. You need to act very carefully, continuing to work until the traces of the slime are completely removed. If done correctly, there will be no streaks and the stain will disappear.
- Laundry soap 70%. It is turned into shavings, poured with hot water, and then the resulting gruel is transferred to the surface of the spot. The product is rubbed into the carpet and left to act for 30-40 minutes. This method works well for miniature decor items that are easy to rinse by hand. Stubborn stains are re-treated.
- A mixture of ammonia, lemon juice and sea salt. This composition is suitable for processing light-colored carpets due to its slight bleaching effect. The ingredients are combined in equal proportions, turned into gruel, carefully rubbed into the area of contamination with a stiff brush. After that, the carpet is left for 20 minutes and then washed in any convenient way.
These products have worked well in the fight against fresh dirt, but they will be practically useless if the slime has long left its marks on the surface of the carpet. Stronger substances are needed here.
How to wipe off dried contamination?
Dried and absorbed slime is a serious problem in the interior of the house. It is absorbed into the surface structure, it becomes much more difficult to remove dirt from a carpet or fleecy carpet. It will no longer be possible to clean the slime mechanically. But you can try other recipes and ready-made chemical compositions.
Vinegar
Vinegar essence is well known as an all-purpose stain remover. With the help of vinegar, the slime can be removed from both rugs and carpets with a long pile. The solution is prepared by diluting the concentrate with water in a 2 to 1 ratio. After that, the slime adhering to the carpet is covered with the resulting liquid, the composition is left for 20 minutes to act. If this does not help to separate the mucous mass, the action is repeated.
Alcohol
It is recommended to take a clean solution without unnecessary additives. A pharmacy concentration of ethanol, ammonia or technical, isopropyl version, sold in specialized stores, is suitable. Cleaning is carried out with a cotton pad dipped in alcohol. If the stain is large, you can use a sponge.
The surface of the carpet is thoroughly wiped. If necessary, the disc is changed, a new portion of alcohol is added.
It is important to take care of ventilation, since the vapors of the substance do not have the most pleasant smell. After complete removal of the stain, the surface of the carpet is washed and dried.
Solvent
Most often, acetone acts in this capacity, which is used to remove slime from fleecy carpets and coverings. The substance is treated with problem areas by applying it to a cotton swab or disc. After the slime stops sticking to your hands, it can be removed mechanically. It is imperative to work with acetone in well-ventilated rooms, in compliance with all protective measures. Do not clean carpet near open flames or other potentially hazardous objects - the liquid is highly flammable, like any other chemical solvents.
WD-40
And also an analogue of the well-known automotive lubricant, which is sold today, is suitable for use. under the Runway RW-40 brand. The tool used is quite simple:
- applied to the stain in a small amount;
- aged from 3 to 5 minutes;
- the contaminated area is wiped with a napkin from the edges to the center, you need to collect all the remnants of the slime;
- the carpet is washed or rinsed with water in the area where the chemical was used.
With WD-40, carpet can be easily restored to its attractive appearance without compromising its integrity. Do not keep the product longer than the specified time range - it will leave stains, which will be quite difficult to get rid of.
Petrol
The organic base of this substance ensures effective dissolution of the components that make up the slime. Gasoline can be called a real ambulance for heavy pollution. It is necessary to carry out processing in a well-ventilated area, using a protective respirator.
Here is the procedure.
- Testing. Check the compatibility of the carpet and the cleaning agent. The product is applied to a small area of the surface. If the pile has withstood the impact, you can continue cleaning.
- Treatment. The sponge is moistened in gasoline, the stain is rubbed thoroughly. Wait at least 30 minutes.
- Erasing the damaged area. It is cleaned up with a brush and powder or laundry soap.
- Rinse and dry. After completing these procedures, the effectiveness of the cleaning can be assessed.
It is important to use only refined gasoline for processing carpet. Any impurities can affect the condition of the carpet and pile.
Other means
There are many other remedies that can be used to combat slime adhering to carpet. The simplest is a gel-like dishwashing detergent, whipped well into a strong foam. It is used to treat areas contaminated after contact with the slime.
Since the liquid for dishes does not contain toxic or aggressive substances, it can be used even on carpets made of natural materials, woolen rugs. The foam is applied repeatedly, rubbed into the surface, and then left on for a while. You can wash off traces of the product after cleaning with a regular damp sponge.
And you can also use other formulations.
- Specialty chemicals. They can be found at brand Vanish, other firms specializing in the removal of tough stains. Chewing gum solvent spray is just as helpful in the fight against slime. It handles fresh and old dirt.
- Starch. This remedy will help if the slime has already been removed, but there is a greasy stain on the surface. By sprinkling it with starch, and then leaving it to act for a while, you can achieve an absorption effect. After a few hours, all that remains is to work with a vacuum cleaner to collect the powdery substance.
- Finely ground edible salt. It works the same way as starch. The place where the slime stain remains is covered with grains of salt, then it is left for 2-3 hours, collected mechanically - manually or with a vacuum cleaner. The advantage of the method is the absence of unpleasant odors.
In the absence of chemicals on hand, you can arm yourself against the slime with ice cubes and an ordinary spoon. The surface of the stuck slime can also be cooled with a medical bag. It contains dry ice that does not melt so actively. Having frozen problematic pollution, it is removed with a regular spoon, leaving practically no traces on the surface of the carpet.
Useful Tips
Carpet cleaning in most cases can be carried out outside the home, combined with the subsequent washing of the product. This greatly facilitates the process of removing stains with strong-smelling products. It is quite another matter if at home you have to remove the slime from the carpet. Such a covering is laid on the floor as a whole, is fixed, does not imply dismantling during cleaning.
Since carpet is most often made of synthetic fibers based on polyamide or polypropylene, respectively, not all compounds can be used for cleaning. Treat slime stains with:
- vinegar;
- organic solvents;
- liquid soap.
The choice of product is based on the degree of contamination. The more intense it is, the stronger the cleaning effect should be. And also when working, it is worth considering a number of recommendations that can help in the fight against slime stains.
There are a number of relevant tips.
- Compliance with safety precautions. Harsh chemicals should only be used with gloves on and mouth and nose protected with a respirator.
- Use solvents only in a well-ventilated area.
- Only light-colored carpets should be cleaned when handling decolorizing liquids. This includes acetone, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and lemon juice.
- Liquid products can be applied with a spray bottle. It works well with liquid soaps, vinegar and alcohol solutions.
- Acetone and other solvents take time to soften the dried slime. They are applied to cotton swabs or discs and then applied to the area to be treated. The average exposure time is 15 to 20 minutes. It is not worth keeping the composition longer.
- The appearance of colored streaks on the surface of the carpet greatly spoils the appearance of the piece of furniture. It will not work to remove them with mild cleaning agents. This requires an oxygen-based stain remover. It is applied to stains, and then the carpet is washed as usual.
If the dirt from the slime is completely fresh, you can try to remove it in an unconventional way. To do this, it is enough to take a slime, and then hold it over the place where the mucus particles remain. The pollution will just stick. The rest can be easily collected with a vacuum cleaner.
How to remove slime from carpet, see below.