There are few things more frustrating in your home than a stained carpet. Carpet stains are unpleasant to look at and, in most cases, smell. The only thing more frustrating than having a stain on your carpet is fighting to remove it. Many cleaners and at-home remedies might not do the job depending on what the stain is made of. That's where enzyme cleaners come in handy. We have researched all about how to properly use enzyme cleaner on your carpet so that you can have an easier time dealing with those tricky stains!
Enzyme cleaner does a great job of breaking down tough stains and doing the work for you. The unique properties of enzyme cleaner make it more efficient at stain and odor removal. To make sure that they work properly, there are certain steps that you should follow.
- Remove any excess material
- Prep the area
- Use the enzyme cleaner
- Check the stained area and repeat if necessary
A lot of different things have the potential to come in contact with our carpets. From food and beverages to animal waste and bodily fluids. It may not be pleasant, but it happens anyway. In these instances, you want something that will break down the stain to remove it and its odor, so you don't have to have too much contact with it. With things as important as stain removal, it's important to have as much information as possible. To make sure that you know how to use enzyme cleaner on your carpet in detail, keep reading below!
Using Enzyme Cleaner On Your Carpet
Enzyme cleaners are normally seen as being used on some of the harder stains to get rid of. That includes blood, wine, vomit, and animal waste. However, it is also great to use on all stubborn food and beverage stains and things like grass stains.
You also don't just have to use enzyme cleaner on the carpet. Using it on clothing and upholstery will also help to remove these stubborn stains in other places.
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Why Does Enzyme Cleaner Work?
What makes enzyme cleaners special is the enzymes that they are named after. These special enzymes work hard to break down stains and filth. Enzymes react to the stains when they come in contact with each other. Once they are activated, they break down and destroy the stain so that you don't have to scrub to get rid of them. This is a good thing since scrubbing usually just grinds serious stains into a carpet more.
Enzymes also help to eliminate odors. Having odors worked into your carpet is arguably worse than seeing the stain depending on the smell. With things like animal waste, this can become toxic as you are just breathing it in. That's why breaking the odors down and completely removing them with enzyme cleaner is so important.
1. Remove Any Excess Material
The first step in properly using enzyme cleaner is removing as much of the soiling substance as possible. Stains are a result of something falling onto your carpet, such as food. Regardless of what the substance is, you want to remove it either by picking it up or scooping it up in some way. You want to get as much as possible off of your carpet so that the enzyme cleaner can just focus on what has already soaked into the carpet fibers.
This step is also important if there is any excess liquid. If a glass of wine is spilled on your carpet, there is bound to be more liquid than the enzyme cleaner can handle. To take care of this, you'll want to take a clean cloth of some type and pat it onto the stain. Don't rub it in; just lay the cloth over the liquid and pat it. This will help soak up as much liquid as possible so that the cleaner only has to deal with what's necessary.
2. Prep The Area
The next step to using enzyme cleaner on your carpet is helping to dilute the stain as much as possible before actually applying the cleaner. After getting as much excess off of the stain as possible, you can use warm water to dilute the stain. Just like removing excess material, this will simply make it so that there is less for the cleaner to focus on. The smaller the amount of undesired material in the carpet, the better because the enzyme cleaner can be more efficient.
To do this, start by gathering some warm water, either in a bowl or a spray bottle. Apply some of the water to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. This will help get more of the excess out of the stain. Then pat the area dry again with a clean cloth to get the now-soiled water off the stain and carpet.
3. Use The Enzyme Cleaner
After you have gotten as much excess off of the stain as possible, it's time to apply the enzyme cleaner. Most enzyme cleaners come in a spray bottle. You're going to use that to spray the cleaner onto the surface of the stain. Be sure to spray the enzyme cleaner over the entire stain.
After the stain is saturated, you'll want to wait at least the amount of time stated on the directions for that specific cleaner. You can leave the cleaner on the stain for longer if the stain is extra stubborn; just read that cleaner's directions on exactly how long you can leave it on.
4. Check The Stained Area And Repeat If Necessary
Once the desired time has passed, you can use a cloth to finish removing the stain. Take a clean cloth and get it wet; make sure to wring it out so that it is only damp. Then, just like when you were removing the excess material from the stain, you don't want to use a scrubbing motion. Set the damp cloth over the now broken-down stain and pat it. This will soak up the cleaner and the remains of the stain. Repeat this entire process if necessary to fully remove the stain!
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Extra Enzyme Cleaner Questions
Knowing when and how to use enzyme cleaners is a big part of the puzzle. However, it's good to be prepared for any questions that may come up surrounding the stain cleaning process!
What Are Examples Of Enzyme Cleaners?
The majority of enzyme cleaners are marketed towards one specific type of stain -pet stains. You will notice that most of them mention pets in some way on their bottles. This is because of the stain and odor removing properties of enzyme cleaners.
However, some are not geared specifically towards pets but are just marketed toward general stain and odor removing. Regardless of which one you pick, they all do the same job for the most part. You can also purchase large containers of them to refill your own spray bottles.
Can You Use Enzyme Cleaner In A Carpet Shampoo?
There are enzyme cleaners that are made specifically to be used in a carpet shampooer. You should use one of these when shampooing and not a regular enzyme cleaner for the best results. It is also recommended to use a regular enzyme cleaner on any animal waste before you shampoo your carpet. This just helps to make sure that the waste is being targeted more specifically.
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Does Enzyme Cleaner Disinfect?
Unfortunately, enzyme cleaners do not disinfect. Due to the chemical property of enzyme cleaners, they cannot disinfect the surface. So, if disinfecting is a priority for you, you should do so before you use an enzyme cleaner.
However, you should not try and use these two different products at the same time. Neither one of them will work properly as they will be working to cancel each other out.
How Quickly Does Enzyme Cleaner Work?
Most companies recommend waiting at least 15 minutes for the enzyme cleaner to work before removing it from the stain. While they start working within that 15 minutes, it's more important to be patient with enzyme cleaners. The longer they sit on the stain, the better they work. This gives the enzymes more time to break down the stain and odor that is present.
Finishing Up
Enzyme cleaners are a great option to use when you have a particularly tough stain to deal with. Not only do they help to break down the visible stain, but more importantly, they help to destroy the odor associated with it. When using an enzyme cleaner, make sure to remove excess material from the stain and dilute it with water to remove as much of it as possible. Then, you can use the enzyme cleaner per its instructions for the best result. Knowing how to use these cleaners properly makes dealing with carpet stains that much easier in your home!
To learn more about keeping your carpet as clean as possible make sure to click on the links below!