Carpets are one of the most important accessories of a household. They can add a certain grace and sophistication to any room. One must always be vigilant to ensure that their carpets don’t get stained to maintain their charm. However, they do get stained no matter how hard you try.
Cleaning Carpets with Ammonia
Keeping the carpets stain-free is an almost super-human task. But the good news is that cleaning carpets with ammonia can give you the desired results and make your carpet feel fresh and new. Ammonia is easy to use and can help you get rid of carpet stains without any stress.
It may seem strange because ammonia is commonly associated with cleaning tough stains and spots in bathrooms and tiles. However, it is a versatile cleaning agent and can be labeled as the one-stop solution to all your carpet cleaning woes.
How to Clean Your Carpet Using Ammonia?
Cleaning your carpet using ammonia is simple. Follow these simple steps for a seamless cleaning experience:
- Take one part of ammonia with four parts of water and mix the solution well.
- Pour this solution into a spray bottle for effective application.
- Using the spray bottle, spray the solution on parts of the carpet that have a visible stain.
- Let the solution soak into the stain for 10-15 minutes.
- Take a clean cloth and gently blot the area once the mixture has soaked into the stain.
- You will notice the stain transferring to the cloth, thereby leaving the carpet clean and fresh.
One of the biggest advantages of using ammonia for cleaning carpets is that it also acts as a deodorant. If your carpet exudes odor due to regular usage, using ammonia will make it smell fresh again.
Is Ammonia Bad for Carpet?
Despite the proven ability of ammonia in cleaning carpets, doubts persist. This is perhaps because ammonia is used for cleaning toilets and bathrooms. The key concerns of people who are against using ammonia for cleaning carpets include:
- Ammonia is toxic and may release harmful fumes while cleaning.
- Ammonia may lead to discoloration of the carpet.
However, these issues can be tackled well if one takes all the necessary precautions. Because here is the thing, ammonia does a great job at cleaning stains from carpets.
One needs to use protective gear while cleaning carpets at all times. This is independent of using ammonia. Besides, once you dilute ammonia with water, the chances of discoloration or permanent damage to carpets reduces drastically. Besides, no cleaning solution is ever going to guarantee you 100% results or security ever.
Can You Use Ammonia on Wool Carpet?
Wool carpets are a significant financial investment. It is, therefore, important to keep them clean. While vacuum cleaning and beating the carpet occasionally can take care of regular dirt, rigid stains can be cleaned with ammonia.
Ammonia (1 teaspoon) and water (1 cup) solution can clean a carpet properly. Take a white paper and dab some of the cleaning solution to the spot that is stained. Rinse the area well with cold water and pat it dry.
This should take care of the dirt and stain on the wool carpet. However, make sure to use a small amount of ammonia and that too after diluting the ammonia, else you may end up ruining the wool.
Which Is Better, Ammonia or Vinegar?
People use all types of substances for cleaning carpets. These include ammonia, vinegar, or the two together along with other substances.
While vinegar is a great disinfectant and can disinfect your carpet properly by getting rid of odors, it falls short in deep cleaning your carpet. As a result, bacteria and dirt may still breed on the carpet.
Ammonia, on the other hand, will make your carpet smell pleasant while also eliminating dirt and tough stains. If you have pets who frequent your carpet regularly and have unfortunately spoilt it, ammonia will ensure you get rid of those stains and smells.
Sometimes, a combination of vinegar and ammonia can also be used to treat stubborn carpet stains.
Choosing one over the other would mean looking into the type of stain and the nature of the carpet. If there is something that is not very rigid, old, or stubborn, vinegar can be a good choice. However, tough stains do well with ammonia.
Make sure you are carefully covered while cleaning the carpet with ammonia. If this seems too much work, you can always consult a professional or outsource the job.
The Final Word
Ammonia solution is a great way of cleaning dirty or stained carpets. All you need to do is to use the right amount of ammonia and use protective gear while cleaning the carpet. It is absolutely necessary to cover your eyes and hands to avoid any injuries. You will see the results for yourself!
