When you’re in a hurry and don’t feel like messing around with a wet baking soda paste or enduring the sour smell of vinegar in your living room for days, there’s a great, almost forgotten trick from the restaurant industry and cleaning professionals: Carbonated mineral water combined with regular shaving cream.
This combination is a real express miracle against stains, odors and scratches.
Why this trick works so fast
The effervescent effect: The carbon dioxide in the mineral water penetrates deep into the carpet fibers. The rising gas bubbles physically release dirt from the fibers and transport it to the surface – completely without chemicals.
Shaving Cream Trick: White shaving cream is essentially nothing more than a highly concentrated soap with extremely fine pores. It seals in loose dirt, is non-greasy and can be easily vacuumed up after drying.
Express Guide: Removing Stains in 3 Steps
Important Note: Only use white shaving foam, not blue or green shaving gel!
Soak with sparkling water: Step 1.
Pour a generous amount of highly sparkling mineral water directly onto the stain. Let it fizz and work in for about 30 seconds.
Work in the foam: Step 2.
Now spray a handful of shaving foam onto the wet spot. Using a soft brush or clean cloth, work the foam into the carpet fibers in gentle circular motions from the outside inwards.
Vacuum and you’re done: Step 3.
Leave it in for a short while. For fresh stains, blot up the moisture with a dry kitchen towel. For larger areas or older stains: Let the foam dry completely (often only takes one to two hours) and simply vacuum up the remaining powder along with the dirt.
Which stains is it ideal for?
Stain type Why this trick works
Coffee and red wine: Carbonation forces the dyes out of the fibers before they dry.
Grease and food stains: The surfactants in the shaving foam break down grease in no time.
Stains: The foam helps the fibers to stand up again and the gray tint disappears.
Tip: If you want to additionally disinfect the carpet or leave it with a particularly fresh scent, you can add a few drops of essential oil (e.g. lemon or lavender) to a little water after vacuuming.