The winter months are in full swing, and that can mean a little extra work to keep your carpet looking its best! You may find yourself wondering how to remove mud from carpet? If you have a four-legged friend or a fur-baby, you’ve probably had muddy paw-prints on your carpet. Even if you don’t have a four-legged friend muddy prints are bound to happen, especially with an extra wet winter. Here are quick and easy instructions on how to remove mud from carpet.
How to Remove Mud From Carpet
First, (and probably the most difficult part of removing mud) is to walk away. That’s right, just walk away. The trick to removing mud and dirty paw prints from your carpet is to let the mud dry, so it becomes dry soil. Dry soil can easily be vacuumed up without spreading the muddy soil around. Be sure to contain the mud area while it’s drying so others don’t walk through it and track it even deeper into your home.
After the mud has completely dried, pull your vacuum out and vacuum the area slowly – take your time! By slowing down, you allow the vacuum to do its job more effectively. People often assume that because they can’t see the soil that it isn’t there. Not true. Slow down and try to double your vacuum time – your carpet will thank you.
Even after you finish with the vacuum, you’ll still have a few dirty spots remaining. Simply spot treat these with a spray bottle of white vinegar and water (a 50/50 mix is the perfect cleaner to keep on hand for many carpet spills) and a white cotton towel. Another great at-home spot cleaner to use on carpet is clear Windex – just make sure it’s the CLEAR vinegar variety. Lightly spray the soiled spot with the vinegar and water mixture then press down with a clean, white cotton towel. The towel will absorb the moisture and bring any remaining soil along with it. This method leaves your carpet residue-free, unlike many spot cleaners which can end up attracting soil. Again, take your time and don’t be tempted to scrub. Scrubbing moves the soil back and forth, while blotting or pressing down helps to lift the moisture and soil up into the towel.
