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"Keep your curtains drawn." That's the advice one friend gave me when I was soliciting ideas for how to brighten my carpets and prevent further fading. But sunshine is essential in my home, and I'll live with faded carpets if I have to. The good news? I don't have to.
I discovered a natural way to brighten carpet fibers, so I tested this method on a small area rug that was lacking in luster. Now that I know how well it works, I plan to make my way through the rest of the house, bringing life to our tired and faded area rugs and carpets.
All you need is hot water and salt. The salt brightens faded fiber and guards against further discoloration. Some suggest that ammonia is a necessary ingredient. It's possible that that would yield an even more impressive result, but this solution worked well too, and without being harmful to pets and children (and to all of us really!).
I was thrilled to find out that the process not only brightened my carpets and will guard against further fading but it also took care of some minor stains. I'm going to add this one to my Spring Cleaning list for next year:
Brighten Faded Carpets and Rugs
Use equal parts salt and hot water.
Brighten Faded Carpets and Rugs
Stir in the salt until it dissolves, and wait until the water is cool enough to handle.
Brighten Faded Carpets and Rugs
Grab your handheld or floorstanding vacuum and give the carpet a once-over.
Brighten Faded Carpets and Rugs
Dip a clean rag in the water and wring it out so it is just damp. Resist the temptation to think that more is better. It really is just meant to be a damp wash, any more and you'll be struggling to get salt deposits off the carpet. I made this mistake, so take my word for it. You only need a damp cloth.
Brighten Faded Carpets and Rugs
Wash the faded area with your dampened cloth (microfiber cloths are best).
Brighten Faded Carpets and Rugs
Let the rug dry, then vacuum it again. You should notice a subtle brightening!