With so many different products available, all with different ingredients, it can be tricky to know what is best to use when cleaning carpet stains. But you might already have the answer in your bathroom cabinet.
Known primarily for its role in personal grooming, this product is also a surprisingly effective and economical option for carpet care. Shaving foam acts as a gentle, affordable, and somewhat unexpected carpet cleaner, perfect for maintaining spotless carpets. The Queen of Clean, Lynsey Crombie, showcased the use of shaving foam on carpet stains, emphasising the need for foam over gel for this particular trick.
Lynsey began by liberally applying shaving foam to the stained areas, then vigorously scrubbed them with a microfibre cloth. Moments later, she removed the foam to reveal that the stains had vanished.
She reiterated this technique on her cleaning blog, writing: “Spray a bit of shaving cream on carpet stains, scrub in using a soft bristle brush, allow them to dry and then blot clean using a white cloth.”
Curious followers flooded the comments section of her video with questions about the hack’s effectiveness on old stains and the recommended duration for leaving the shaving foam on the carpet.
The influencer remarked that shaving foam is an absolute “game-changer” for tackling ancient stains, suggesting you should let it rest for 20 minutes before cleaning the spot.
But why does shaving foam work? At the heart of traditional shaving foams are essential components that double as adept carpet cleaners.
Surfactants diminish the surface tension of liquids, enhancing spreadability and facilitating deep fibre penetration in the carpet.
They also help to lift and dissolve grime and blemishes from the carpet, merging the cream’s water with any water-friendly stains or soil.
Shaving foams often boast glycerin too, a moisture-preserving heavyweight. Glycerin shines in carpet cleaning, serving not just as a formidable stain lifting agent but also a protector against your carpet drying out, thanks to its exceptional hydrating qualities.