The first thing you notice about a new carpet is how long it takes to dry.
If you’re like most people, this is not a good thing.
“The first day, the dryer’s not there,” says Elizabeth Tull, a carpet-cleaning expert and founder of The Clean Caulk Project.
“I think it takes a few weeks.”
After that, your carpet might need to be wiped down with a damp rag or a soft cloth.
That’s a good idea to avoid dirt and grime, says Tull.
But if your carpet has a hardwood floor, it might need a little more care.
A new carpet might require you to apply a special “scrubbing” scrub to get rid of the “wet” residue that has built up over time.
“This is a very important step,” Tull says.
“A lot of people are going to need to clean their carpet after every single use.”
If you have dry-cleaners and a carpet cutter, you might want to look for the product that comes with the carpet cleaner.
If not, a few brands are on sale.
And if you have an older carpet that hasn’t been cleaned recently, you can usually buy new carpet from a carpet store.
Some carpet stores sell a new, cleaner-free carpet.
If it doesn’t have a label, the carpet company typically will.
But some carpet-cleaner companies make them so you can make your own.
For instance, Avis, which sells carpet cleaners and carpet strips, has an app that lets you make your favorite cleaners.
Some companies even sell free carpet cleaners for free.
And some carpet stores offer coupons to help you save money.
“Most carpet cleaning companies will let you make any cleaners you want, and they’ll give you a free $10 credit to spend on new carpet,” says Tully.
“There’s a lot of options.”
Tull recommends trying different cleaners to see which ones work best for you.
If your carpet is really dry, you could use a carpet scrub to wash out the dirt and dust.
And there’s no reason you should wash out your carpet every time you change a light bulb or vacuum.
But you can try cleaning your carpet in a dryer.
It’ll keep the dirt from building up, and it’ll also let you eliminate stains on the surface.
But, Tull warns, “If you don’t want to use a dry scrub, you’ll have to do it in the winter months.”
If the carpet isn’t really dry but you do want to wipe it down with the dry scrub (or a damp cloth), there are some carpet cleaners that will work.
If the smell of the dry cleaner isn’t appealing to you, consider a scrubber.
If there’s any lingering dust, the smell may be from a dry cleaning cycle.
A scrubber cleans the carpet by gently scrubbing against it with the bristles of a cotton ball.
Then, the sponge comes up the side of the carpet.
When you wipe it away with the sponge, the dirt is taken out of the surface of the wood, and the wood dries.
“It takes about 20 minutes to clean a new floor,” says David Geller, president of the Home Products Association of America.
If all else fails, you may need to get professional help.
“If I have to clean the carpet again and again and the stain has not disappeared, I’m going to stop,” Tully says.
But for a quick fix, Tully recommends using the product called “Carpet Tote,” which comes with a cloth and a plastic bag.
This is a convenient item for when you don,t want to wash a carpet, or you’re trying to keep your carpet dry while you’re out.
It comes in several colors and you can buy it at any carpet store, such as Target or Home Depot.
