Green-clean your carpet

With cold weather on the way, it’s time to start tidying up our homes for the season of hibernation. The cleaning urge always hits me this time of year, much as it does in the spring, but now it’s more about nestling in and getting cozy. Of course, we want our winter “dens” to be clean and comfortable for the coming months, and for many a modern den, carpeting is central. Because a carpet bears the brunt of daily foot traffic — and there’s no luxury of being able to throw it in the wash — it can be particularly challenging to resist using chemicals to keep it clean. But don’t be lured by the glitzy advertisements that promise an end to smells and stains. At best, chemical cleaners are caustic and corrosive — nothing you want tickling your toes. At worst, they can cause severe respiratory reactions, headaches, nervous-system problems and even cancer. Some city sewer districts actually prohibit disposing of certain carpet cleaning chemicals via the drain due to health and environmental dangers. The silver lining? There’s no reason to risk your family’s health for a clean carpet when there are safe and natural methods that work like a charm. Some people swear by their steam-cleaning vacuums, while others prefer to leave the dirty work to a carpet-cleaning service. Either way, carpet “shampooing” can leave carpets feeling fresher than vacuuming alone. The trick is paying attention to what sort of solution is being used. “People who clean houses for a living tend to have higher rates of cancer and bronchial problems, and it’s been linked back to the chemicals in the products they use,” claims Tiffany Watts of Two Chicks and a Broom (www.twochicksandabroom.com), an all-natural, Memphis-based home-cleaning service. There are a growing number of services like Tiffany’s, so check the web, a phonebook or your local chamber of commerce to track one down. Even my small town has one, www.cleangreenocs.com, a local family-owned business. If you can’t locate one, or you prefer to clean yourself, I suggest bypassing all of those smelly, expensive bottles at the store and heading for the salad dressing aisle. Sounds silly, I know, but in this section of the supermarket, you can get distilled white vinegar for much less than a bottle of cleaner with questionable ingredients. Vinegar kills germs, ousts odors and removes residues leftover from chemical cleaners — and it brightens carpets beautifully. Of the common brands, I prefer Fleischmann’s Vinegar, www.fleischmannsvinegar.com, because they also have a line of organic vinegars and I buy organic whenever possible. For routine cleaning, mix a solution of about 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water in the tank of your steam-cleaning vacuum. To battle a really tough spot, increase the vinegar by about half. Yes, the vinegar smell lingers until the carpet is dry, but once it’s gone, the only smell remaining is pure clean. For a dash of floral fragrance, you can always add a few drops of lavender oil to the tank, as well. Lavender has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and its pleasing natural scent will last after the vinegar dries. Another simple yet effective trick to treating carpet stains and odors is hydrogen peroxide, which you can now buy in a convenient spray bottle. If you’re in a rush, just spritz some peroxide on a stain and move on. When you return later, the stain will have vanished without a trace. Cleaner Carpet Tips When using any new product (no matter how natural), be sure to test a hidden spot of the carpet to make sure it doesn’t bleach or stain. Use cool water to clean pet odors; hot water or steam will “set” the smell. Place doormats at all entrances to keep more dirt and pollutants outside. Shed your shoes once you’re indoors and encourage visitors to do the same. Opt for a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Carpet deodorizers and fresheners often contain harmful chemicals. Instead, sprinkle carpets with plain baking soda, let it sit for a few hours, and vacuum. Ventilate well during and after steam cleaning to speed drying time and prevent mold growth. Avoid carpet cleaning on humid or damp days.