Carpet Cleaning for the Brave

There are two words that can strike fear into the hearts of homeowners everywhere. It's a chore that nobody enjoys, but it's necessary to keep your home looking and smelling fresh. But have no fear, because I'm here to help you make carpet cleaning a little less daunting - and maybe even a little bit fun!

First things first, let's talk about the tools you'll need. You'll want a vacuum cleaner, obviously. If you don't have one, well, you're going to need to get one. Sorry, I don't make the rules. You'll also want a good carpet cleaner - and no, I don't mean your old roommate from college who always knew how to get red wine out of the carpet. I'm talking about an actual carpet-cleaning machine. I recommend the Hoover Smart Wash Automatic carpet cleaner. (I like it so much that I bought one for each of my daughters). I don’t use carpet shampoo in it; I use hot water, and it cleans beautifully and leaves no residue. And last of all, a bottle of Folex carpet cleaner ( or your choice of spot remover) for spotting and a few terry cloth rags.

Now, let's get started. The best way to approach carpet cleaning is to break it down into smaller tasks. Start by vacuuming the entire carpet thoroughly. Don't forget to move furniture if you need to - those dust bunnies can hide in the darndest places! Once you've vacuumed, it's time to break out the carpet cleaner. Follow the instructions on the bottle carefully, and make sure you spot-test in an inconspicuous area first. You don't want to accidentally bleach your carpet and end up with a patch of bright white carpet in the middle of the room. Now, spray all extremely dirty spots with the carpet cleaner and scrub them with a piece of terry cloth. This can be a great workout for your arms, so think of it as a mini-gym session. Don’t forget to switch arms occasionally, or you will end up with one super buff and one noodly are. Pre-spotting is the secret to a spotless carpet.

Now, you can take a break and have a snack. Maybe some cookies or chips and dip? Hey, you deserve it for all your hard work.

After you've pre-spotted all the carpet, it’s time to get out of the incredible Hoover Smart Wash and finish the job!

And there you have it, folks - a clean carpet and a fun afternoon. Okay, maybe it’s not fun, but at least you accomplished something. Reward yourself with a glass of wine and put your feet on that freshly cleaned carpet. You deserve it!