Keep Your Student Apartment Fresh

Welcome back to class! And welcome to your new apartment here at the Junction Cottages and Townhomes. Or, if you’re returning, welcome home from what was likely a long, long summer away. Here at the Junction Cottages and Townhomes, we pride ourselves in offering beautiful apartments that are easy to maintain and even easier to enjoy. However, given that this is many of our residents’ first apartment, even easy to maintain spaces can be hard if you’re not used to taking charge of the cleaning tasks. Especially when it comes to cleaning out stubborn stains.

While we can connect you with some outstanding cleaning companies if you have a stain on the carpet or living room upholstery that you just can’t get out, there are also some things you can do yourself before you go for that added expense. In fact, there are some very easy and cheap things you can do. The following is a look at some of our favorite cost-effective products and cleaning solutions that’ll get out those stubborn and frustrating stains:

First Off, Always Act Fast

The most important thing you need to know about stains is that the faster you act following a spill, the easier it will be to prevent that spill from becoming a stain. Yes, sadly, while the following products are great, sometimes a stain just won’t come out. Or sometimes you will need to throw a ton of elbow grease and products to get it out and it won’t feel like it’s worth all that effort. So, best to be proactive and the moment you see something spill, jump and grab your preferred cleaning supplies.

Second, Always Blot and Never Scrub

The second most important thing to know or habit to develop is to always blot at stains and never scrub at them. Especially when it comes to spills or stains on carpets and similar fibers. Blotting is likewise critical no matter what you use, whether it be soap and water or a professional enzyme solution. Blotting is the preferred method because as it most readily pulls the offending particulates cleanly out of the carpet fibers. In contrast, when you scrub or rub at liquids or chunky solids like lipstick, you actually end up working the stain further into the fibers. This results in a stain being even harder to pull out.

So you know to blot, but what does that mean? This is a cleaning strategy that starts with you first spraying the stain with whatever cleaning agent you choose and allowing that cleaning agent to soak into the fibers. Next, take a clean rag, paper towel, or dishcloth and apply it directly to the soaked area. Press firmly down into the soaked area with the heel of your hand and then pull it away to either wring out or replace it with another clean rag, towel, or cloth. Repeat this pressing and pulling strategy until all of the liquid has been absorbed, then finish with vacuuming.

Top Home Remedy Solutions:

• White Vinegar & Water. You might be surprised to learn, but with just white water and vinegar, you can clean up relatively any type of water-based stain. This means wine, beer, orange juice, etcetera all can be neatly pulled up with just these two ingredients. We recommend mixing ⅓ white vinegar to ⅔ cup of room temperature water for best effects.
• Hydrogen Peroxide or OxyClean. If you have white carpeting, rugs, blankets, towels, or similar fabrics with nasty stains, then hydrogen peroxide can be your hero. Hydrogen peroxide is one of those things that everyone should have in their medicine cabinet thanks to its ability to kill germs and readily clean surfaces. The only problem is that it does act partially via bleaching when it comes to fabrics and so you should avoid using hydrogen peroxide or similar products (OxyClean) on dark carpeting and other fibers. Hydrogen peroxide is especially magic at removing ugly yellow underarm staining, making it a great buy for athletes.
• Baking Soda. Baking soda is another must-buy for every new apartment resident. Where most commercial deodorizers use chemicals to maks smells, baking soda is a natural food product that actually absorbs and eliminates undesired smells. Additionally, when it comes to stains, baking soda when combined with a cleaning liquid, can break up stains and help pull it out of carpet fibers. For best effects, mix equal parts white vinegar and baking soda together until you form a thick paste. Apply that paste directly onto a stain, allow it to set, then use the blotting strategy to lift it up. Finish a baking soda treatment with plain water to thoroughly rinse out the carpet or other fibers.

Don’t Be Afraid to Call in For Help

We hope the above strategies help inform you of what to do and use when you encounter your next stain. However, we know they won’t work for everything — but the good news is our team is here to assist. Give our front desk a call if you need help.