Heavy rains can cause flooding which can damage homes and require a lot of clean up work. Some carpet cleaning tips can help homeowners to preserve their carpets which may have been damaged by flood waters. Carpets which cannot be dried and thoroughly cleaned should be replaced, but if the area of damage is small it is probably possible to save the carpet.

You should be able to clean the area with a mild detergent or hire a professional cleaning service. Other flooring surfaces can be cleaned with a solution of bleach and water. You should add about 1 cup of bleach to a gallon of water, or clean with a disinfectant cleaner. You can also hire professional cleaners to clean items like drapes and furniture. This ensures that the bacteria often present in flood waters will be removed.

Carpet cleaning tips from TLC start with vacuuming as an essential maintenance step. Carpets should be vacuumed once each week and more frequently in high traffic areas.

This will prolong the life of your carpets by preventing dirt buildup, and you should also use a crevice tool every few weeks to clean baseboards, radiators and similar places. Dividing the floor into quadrants and vacuuming each quadrant is a good way to vacuum wall to wall carpeting and ensure that you don't miss any spots. When you vacuum a carpet, and especially plush carpets where dirt is more likely to get embedded, you should take your time and run several passes over each area. When you go slowly and make several passes you ensure that the the suction from the vacuum will remove the deeply embedded dirt and grime.

Carpet cleaning tips can help you to successfully remove stains before they set in. One of the easiest and cheapest options is to mix one part white vinegar with one part water and apply this cleaning solution to the stain with a spray bottle. You should be sure that the stain is totally saturated with the solution and then allow it to sit for up to 15 minutes.

Then clean the stain with a sponge using a rubbing motion, rinse the area with warm water and brush the carpet pile back in its natural direction when finished. Place layers of paper towels on top of the area and lay a book on top of this, and allow it to sit until dry. Another effective option for cleaning carpet stains is to use an ammonia solution made of one teaspoon clear ammonia for every half cup of water. You can also apply this solution with a spray bottle, but try not to wet the carpet backing.