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Mud Season

© Peggy Hoehne

March winds and April showers bring forth - MUD!

Traditionally, in the Northern Hemisphere, April is a month of frequent rain showers. And we all know what that means - it will also bring mud. Mud caked on shoes, mud puddles meant to be waded and splashed in, and mud tracked through the house.

If your carpet becomes the recipient of this particular sign of spring, I may be able to help. According to eHow.com there is a simple way to remove mud from your carpets. Their step-by-step guide follows:

1. Apply a small amount of mild liquid detergent to the stain.
2. Blot the stain with a dry, white cloth.
3. Flood the area with white vinegar.
4. Blot again with the cloth.
5. Apply a little more liquid detergent to the stain.
6. Blot the stain again.
7. Flood the area with water.
8. Blot one last time.
Tips: ·

This technique will work on either dry or wet mud stains.

·

Always test the cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous part of the carpet before using on a large area.

·

Always use a white cloth rather than a colored one to prevent any dyes from coming off on the carpet.

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As you blot, keep turning the cloth so that you are using a clean, dry section to pick up the stain and the cleaning fluids from the carpet. Don't rub.

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If using a brush to help clean the stain, always brush from the outer edges of the spill inward to prevent the stain from spreading.

Some other emergency tips on removing mud include using - Shaving Cream! Spray the shaving cream on the carpet as though it were ordinary carpet cleaner. When you have applied a sufficient amount over the dirty area let it sit five minutes. Then blot and clean.

Another quick home rescue suggestion uses cornstarch. If the mud is fresh, sprinkle cornstarch liberally over the mud, let it sit for 15 - 30 minutes, and vacuum. If the mud is already dry or drying, let mud dry completely, brush with a stiff brush to break up mud clumps then vacuum.

If the kids come in with mud covered clothing you might want to Ask Jeeves how to remove mud from their clothing. There are both traditional and non-traditional methods for dealing with the mess. Both methods work best if you treat stains as soon as possible after staining. The older the stain, the more difficult it will be to remove. All stain removal methods should be applied prior to laundering washable garments. Stains that have been laundered and dried are almost impossible to remove.

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