A carpet is one of the decorative elements that adds warmth and comfort to any room.
However, it also has a drawback: its ability to accumulate dirt, dust, and various microorganisms that cause allergic reactions and even respiratory illnesses.
In Turkey, housewives long ago discovered how to properly clean a carpet in just 20 minutes.
I’ll tell you about this in today’s article.
Simply vacuuming the carpet isn’t enough to keep it clean, fresh, and beautiful.
This product also requires a deeper cleaning from time to time.
How do Turkish housewives clean carpets?
Turkish residents use the most common table salt to restore the cleanliness, freshness, and color brilliance of their flooring (as long as it’s not heavily soiled or has complex stains).
It turns out that this inexpensive product, which can be found in any kitchen, is excellent for cleaning carpets.
The salt will restore both the freshness and color of your carpet.
How to do it? Follow these step-by-step instructions:
- Prepare salt and a brush.
For the Turkish method of carpet cleaning, you’ll need common fine salt, the kind we use in the kitchen, and a soft brush.
For small rugs or runners, 2-3 tablespoons of salt will suffice; for larger items, 5-6 heaping tablespoons.
Using a brush like this one, sprinkle the salt over the carpet.
- Spread the salt evenly over the carpet.
Sprinkle the salt crystals over the entire surface of the carpet and let them sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
This time is enough for the salt to completely absorb the dirt, refresh, and disinfect the carpet.
- After 20 minutes, vacuum the carpet or remove the salt with a broom. And that’s it! It’ll be like new!
After cleaning, vacuum the carpet to remove the salt.
If the stains are severe, Turkish housewives clean the carpet by hand, using another household product: washing powder.
If the carpet is light or white, a powder with a whitening effect is preferred; if it’s multi-colored, a regular product for colored garments is used.
You can also clean the carpet with washing powder.
By the way, instead of powder, you can also use washing gel. It’s more gentle and smells good.
Turkish women then add their secret ingredient to the detergent: ammonia. This significantly enhances the effect of the washing powder on the fabric.
This pharmacy product will enhance the effect of the washing powder and restore your carpet to its new appearance.
How to use a combination of powder and ammonia to clean a carpet? Do the following:
We’ve created a solution. For convenience, you can pour it into a spray bottle.
- Prepare the solution. Pour 1 liter of warm water into a container. Dissolve 1/3 cup of powdered detergent. Add 1 tablespoon of ammonia to the resulting solution. Mix well.
Apply the solution to the entire carpet.
- Apply the liquid mixture to the entire carpet using a brush or broom.
Let the product sit for 20 to 30 minutes. This is enough time for the solution to penetrate deep into the fibers of the floor covering and remove stains and dirt.
Wash the solution from the carpet with a damp cloth.
- Remove the mixture with a clean, damp cloth. Dry the carpet. Once you’ve removed the remaining solution, leave the carpet in the sun to dry completely.
If you can’t dry it in the sun, simply leave the carpet outdoors (on a balcony, for example) for a few days.
Return the carpet to its original location only after it has completely dried and the ammonia smell has disappeared.
Important! Do not leave the solution on the carpet for too long, as this could damage the fibers. Prepare this liquid solution and apply it to the carpet, wearing a mask and protective gloves beforehand.
Carpet cleaning is an integral part of home care. Modern homemakers have access to many commercial products, but not all of them are effective or safe. The Turkish method is one of the most effective and offers amazing results.