How to Lighten Carpet
Carpets are available in various colors and materials to give homeowners a variety of options. However, carpeting can be quite expensive and many people do not have the extra money to purchase new carpeting.
Therefore, when areas of your carpeting become darkened by stains, you are left to deal with the unsightly spots. Fortunately, a variety of common and inexpensive household items can help lighten your carpet and hide the dark spots.
Things You Will Need
- Rubber gloves
- Bucket
- Chlorine bleach
- Spoon
- Spray bottle
- Scrub brush
- White cloth
- Sodium thiosulfate
- Towel
Tip
Bleaching a carpet is permanent and cannot be undone. You can lighten some carpets with white vinegar. Spray undiluted white vinegar onto the carpet and let sit until you have achieved the desired color. Sodium thiosulfate is available in products such as Bleach Stop which are designed to neutralize bleach.
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Don a pair of rubber gloves and open doors and windows to vent the bleach fumes. Fill a bucket with 1 gallon warm water. Add 1 cup chlorine bleach and mix thoroughly with a spoon. Increase the amount of bleach for a more dramatic lightening effect.
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Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Saturate the area of the carpet you want lightened with the bleach mixture. Scrub the mixture into the carpet fibers with a scrub brush. Continue applying the mixture and scrubbing until the carpet is thoroughly saturated.
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Let the bleach mixture sit on the carpet until you have achieved the desired effect. Dampen a clean white cloth with sodium thiosulfate and immediately blot the bleach off the carpet. The sodium thiosulfate will neutralize and stop the bleaching process. Some brands of sodium thiosulfate come in powdered form; mix it with water before use according to the package directions.
The Drip Cap
- Carpets are available in various colors and materials to give homeowners a variety of options.
- Fortunately, a variety of common and inexpensive household items can help lighten your carpet and hide the dark spots.
- Saturate the area of the carpet you want lightened with the bleach mixture.
- Scrub the mixture into the carpet fibers with a scrub brush.
References
Resources
Writer Bio
Amanda Flanigan began writing professionally in 2007. Flanigan has written for various publications, including WV Living and American Craft Council, and has published several eBooks on craft and garden-related subjects. Flanigan completed two writing courses at Pierpont Community and Technical College.
Photo Credits
- Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
- Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
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