How to Get Dirt Out of Almost Anything
April downpours bring… dirt. Just a lot of dirt. A torrential day can leave you covered in mud on everything from your shoes to your hands, paws, and (eventually) your carpet and furniture. You can’t always prevent clutter, especially if you have kids and/or dogs, but you can clean it up. Here are strategies for getting dirt out of almost anything.
Shoes
To learn how to get rid of dirt on the soles of your shoes, contact a shoe specialist. Nike advises that the first step should be to remove any loose pieces or large chunks of dirt with a soft-bristled brush. Then, with the same brush, apply a paste consisting of three parts baking soda and one part water to the sole. Use pressure as you rub this mixture into the soles of your shoes. If the shoe in question has steps or other indentations in the sole, use a small tool like a paperclip to push the paste into the tiny gaps.
Then, dilute a few drops of dishwashing detergent in a bowl of water and brush off any stains on the top of your shoes. Remove the laces and soak them in soapy water, then massage them with your fingers. Rinse off the soap and blot with a cloth to remove excess water before putting them in a warm and sunny place to dry, which will take about eight hours. If the shoes seem particularly damp, you can speed up the process by stuffing them with newspaper to absorb some of the moisture . Resist the temptation to put them in the dryer, which can damage both your shoes and your car.
Carpet
According to Anga , before you can clean a dirty carpet, you need to wait for the dirt to dry so you don’t spread the dirt further down the carpet fibers. Once the dirt has turned into a cake, scrape off as many fibers as you can with a paint scraper or butter knife, then vacuum up the residue. Then mix one tablespoon of dish soap with two cups of warm water, apply to the fabric and work on the stain – don’t rub hard, but blot gently. Blot with a clean cloth and, if necessary, repeat the process until all dirt is gone. Use another cloth dampened with cold water to take care of the soap and let it dry.
Cloth
Again, Mulberrys Garment Care recommends waiting for the dirt to dry and using a butter knife to scrape off the excess. Then apply liquid detergent directly to the stain and let it soak in for at least 15 minutes. However, this is not your day off: you need to keep rubbing the fabric against you every three to five minutes to loosen the stain. For best results, rinse off the cleanser and then apply the stain remover; let it sit for another three to five minutes. When the time is up, wash the clothes as usual, but don’t dry them until you’re sure everything’s gone, as this can set the stain. If more work is needed, repeat the entire process – detergent, stain remover and wash cycle.
Furniture
Dirt got to your furniture? Do not panic. If it is still damp, J&R carpet cleaners advise blotting the upholstery with a dry cloth to remove the top layer of dirt. If it’s dry, again: scrape it with a butter knife to remove whatever you can. Now take out your laundry detergent and dip your wet toothbrush into it, then gently scrub the stain with the wet brush (make sure your detergent is color-safe; if you’re unsure, test it on an inconspicuous area first). Do not wet the fabric too much, otherwise the dirt will become even more; you basically want to scrub the stain with a detergent. Leave for 15 minutes, then return the mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Dip a rag into it, then blot the area with it, but again, don’t rub. Repeat the steps if necessary, leaving enough time for the stain to air dry.
Your deck
When dirt enters your home, your priorities may be the carpet and shoes that got it in, but don’t forget about the mess outside – a deck can keep dirt stains for months and years, but you can also deal with them.
If they’re fresh — no more than a few days old — you can use a mild cleanser, like sodium percarbonate , to clean up the deck just like you would the floor, Hunker advises . Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, especially if your deck has been stained.
If your stains are old, you will need to pressure wash them to remove dirt particles that are deeply embedded in the wood texture. You can rent a pressure washer from a hardware store or buy one for about $116 on Amazon . If you’re in a hurry or don’t want to spend money, try this hack to turn your plain old hose into a DIY pressure washer that can work as long as your stains aren’t too severe.