Shoes, spills, and dogs cause a lot of damage to carpet. We are prepared to put in the effort to maintain it clean since it gives so much warmth and comfort underfoot. Regular vacuuming and thorough cleanings can help to extend the life of any carpet, including wall-to-wall and rugs. We’ll go over the basics of carpet cleaning and provide a few pointers to make the job easier and keep the carpet cleaner for longer.
Table of Contents
How Often Should You Clean Your Carpet?
Vacuuming at least once a week, or more regularly if you have dogs or children, is required whether you have wall-to-wall carpeting or area rugs. Spills and stains must be dealt with as soon as possible. At least twice a year, hire a professional carpet cleaning business or undertake a thorough clean yourself.
What You’ll Require
Equipment and tools
- Vacuum
- Bottle for spraying
- Microfiber towel
- Bucket
- Fan that oscillates
- Scrub brush with stiff nylon bristles
- rags or old towels
- Steamer for clothes
- Mop with steam
Materials
- white vinegar, distilled
- soda bicarbonate
- salt (table)
Instructions
How to Clean Carpets on a Regular Basis
Dust and dirt must be removed.
Allowing dust and filth particles to accumulate on carpet fibres causes them to become dull and smelly, as well as wearing down the carpet backing and fibres. The best technique to clean carpet is to use a vacuum with powerful suction and to use it frequently. If you don’t have a vacuum, you may use an old-fashioned broom or a carpet sweeper to clean your carpet.
Here are some cleaning recommendations for your regular cleaning:
- For the most thorough vacuuming, move furniture and other things away from the carpet.
- To achieve the best suction, set the vacuum to the appropriate height for your carpet type.
- For the greatest results, vacuum gently and go over high-traffic areas numerous times.
- To quickly clear up crumbs, use a lint roller.
- To catch pet hair, run a rubber-edged squeegee over the carpet.
- Every month, a liberal application of baking soda will refresh and brighten carpets. Allow an hour or longer for it to absorb greasy stains and smells before vacuuming it away.
Clean-Up Stains
When it comes to carpet stains, the ideal time to cure them is as soon as possible. If a liquid spill occurs, blot it up as soon as possible using paper towels or a white cloth. Use a colorfast towel or napkin whenever possible.
Use the edge of a credit card or a dull knife to take away more substantial mud stains or fallen food. Solids should never be used to massage a stain since they will drive it deeper into the fibres. To remove certain types of stains, follow the suggestions on the stain removal chart after the first clean-up.
Here’s a brief guide to the five most common and difficult-to-remove carpet stains:
- Accidents involving pets
- Red wine
- Coffee
- Ink
- Colored nail polish
Deep Carpet Cleaning Techniques
To eliminate heavy filth, restore the buoyancy of the fibres, and brighten the colour, the carpet will eventually need to be deep cleaned. To deep clean carpets, most professional carpet cleaning services employ a combination of detergents and steam, and they recommend cleaning at least once a year. You may also rent a heavy-duty steam cleaner and use the carpet wash that is advised. If you have carpets from floor to ceiling, the easiest method to clean it is to hire a cleaning service or rent a machine, but this can be costly.
Smaller carpet cleaners that can be used with liquid carpet shampoo or dry shampoo solutions are available for do-it-yourselfers. With a few basic items and equipment from your pantry, you can thoroughly clean area carpets and even wall-to-wall carpeting.
Clean with distilled white vinegar
Visible Stains should be vacuumed and treated.
Vacuum the carpet to remove loose soil, dust, grime, and debris before beginning any cleaning method. You may merely be moving soil about or shoving it further into the fibres if you neglect this step. Some stains, such as oil, tar, and pet mishaps, require specific attention. For the right cleansers to remove certain stains, see a stain removal chart.
Make a solution of vinegar and water.
Combine one part distilled white vinegar and three parts cold water in a spray bottle. If you’re cleaning a wall-to-wall carpet, you’ll have to refill the bottle numerous times.
Warning
Spray the vinegar solution on the carpet in a discreet spot to evaluate its colorfastness before commencing the deep-cleaning process. If there is any bleeding or colour change, do not use the solution.
Blot after applying the solution.
Spray the vinegar solution onto the carpet in a small 3-foot × 3-foot area until it’s very moist. Don’t overdo it. Use a grid to keep track of where you’ve cleaned. When washing an area rug, take extra steps to prevent moisture damage to the floor underneath the rug.
To begin breaking down the dirt, leave the solution on the carpet for five minutes. Blot the solution and dirt away with a microfiber towel. To rinse the microfiber cloth, have a bucket of clean water ready. As the water becomes contaminated, change it regularly.
Allow for air drying of the carpet.
Increase circulation in the area by opening doors and windows, or use oscillating fans to hasten drying. Allow no traffic on the carpet until it has completely dried.
If you must use the room while the carpet is moist, cover the traffic routes with plastic sheeting or tarps to prevent discoloration.
Using Baking Soda and Salt to Clean
Stains should be vacuumed and pretreated.
To remove visible stains, vacuum or brush the carpet to remove loose soil, then follow the instructions on a stain removal chart.
Baking soda and salt should be combined.
Combine baking soda and salt in a small dish or bucket in a one-to-one ratio. Table salt or kosher salt can be used. Pour cold water into a spray bottle.
Scrub, spritz, and sprinkle.
Sprinkle the baking soda and salt mixture liberally on the carpet. Progressing in a grid pattern, starting at a corner and working toward an exit, may be more efficient.
After sprinkling, sprinkle the area with plain water from a spray bottle. The carpet should be somewhat moist but not completely saturated. Scrub the baking soda into the carpet fibres with a scrub brush. To assist elevate the soil, go in one direction and then at a 90-degree angle.
Vacuum, clean, and dry.
After scrubbing, wipe away the loose soil with old towels or rags. It’s acceptable if some baking soda remains in the fibres. Allow for total air drying of the carpet. Remove any residual baking soda from the fibres using a vacuum. The carpet should have a more pleasant odour and a brighter appearance.
Steam Cleaning
A clothes steamer or steam mop that is often used on hard-surface floors may also be used to thoroughly clean carpets.
Stains should be vacuumed and pretreated.
To remove loose soil and remediate discoloured spots, vacuum the carpet.
Steam after adding baking soda and salt.
To combine baking soda and salt, use the same methods. After sprinkling the mixture on the carpet, dampen it with steam rather than cold water.
Hold the steamer head about six to twelve inches from the carpet if using a clothes steamer. Allow the steam to soak into the carpet fully. Scrub the moist mixture into the fibres using a scrub brush.
If you’re using a steam mop, run over the baking soda mixture on the carpet with the microfiber mop head or a carpet attachment. Clean the area with the scrub brush once more.
Vacuum after blotting.
To absorb the loose soil, use old towels or microfiber cloths. Allow the carpet to dry completely before vacuuming to eliminate any leftover residue.
How to Keep Your Carpet Fresher for Longer
- To trap soil, place doormats outside and inside all entrance doors.
- Remove your shoes at the entryway to avoid trailing dirt in.
- Vacuum at least once a week.
- Immediately treat stains.
- To catch dust particles circulating in the air before they drop on the carpet, change or clean HVAC filters.
- Maintain and clean your vacuum to ensure that it functions correctly.
- Brush and wash your pets on a regular basis to protect your carpets.
