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When to Deep Clean a Carpet
No matter how diligent you are about using carpet-stain remover to take care of new stains as they occur, carpeting will trap dirt over time, which can make it look dull. Carpets also accumulate dust and allergens that may be irritating to the people living in your home. Here’s some general guidance for maintaining a clean carpet at home.
- When it comes to vacuuming, it’s best to do it weekly to prevent dirt and dust from building up, which can make carpet harder to clean when you finally do get around to it. If you have pets, you may need to vacuum more than once a week.
- Sometimes major messes happen, and deep cleaning for carpet stains may be the only way to contend with stubborn spots or odors.
- Twice a year, you’ll want to treat your carpet to a professional cleaning. Rugs can be cleaned and sanitized by technicians as well during this visit.
Choose the Best Way to Clean Carpet
So how do you clean a carpet? When it’s time to deep-clean, you have lots of options to get the job done right.
Is It Better to Rent or Buy a Carpet Cleaner?
If you need to clean a carpet in an apartment or home where you’ll be living for just a short period of time, renting a carpet cleaner is a practical and economical choice. You’ll need to pay to rent the cleaner for the day, and you’ll likely also have to provide your own cleaning solution. The cost of cleaning solutions will vary depending on the brand you use and how much you need. Rental may also make sense for homes that don’t need frequent deep cleanings — such as those without pets or children or homes where the carpet doesn’t experience heavy traffic. Renting is also ideal if you don’t have the room to store your own cleaner or if you’d rather not worry about maintaining and potentially repairing it.
Buying your own carpet cleaner requires a higher upfront cost, but it’ll eventually pay for itself if you clean your carpets and rugs a few times a year. There are many kinds of carpet cleaners available to choose from when you purchase your own, whereas renting limits your selection to whatever the store offers. If you have pets or children or you’re frequently faced with stubborn, heavy stains, owning your own carpet cleaner allows you to clean your carpet at your convenience.
Types of Carpet Cleaners
Portable carpet cleaners, also known as handheld cleaners, are smaller machines that are ideal for spot-cleaning rather than cleaning an entire room or home. They’re convenient to have on hand for accidental spills or messes, saving you from getting on your hands and knees and scrubbing the spot. They can also be used on upholstery.
Upright carpet cleaners are intended to make it quick and easy to clean rooms that are fully carpeted. They’re operated similarly to a vacuum cleaner in that you use a handle to push them over your carpeting. These are intended for larger jobs than portable cleaners, but they eliminate your need to hand-scrub the carpet.
Products to Use for Deep-Cleaning Your Carpet
There are two main types of machines you can use to deep-clean your carpets: steam cleaners or carpet shampooers. As the name suggests, a steam cleaner uses steam from hot water to loosen dirt trapped in your carpet or rug. The machine blasts steam through the carpet, vacuums the debris and deposits the dirty water into a tank. Steam cleaners remove and disinfect stains, leaving your carpets fresh and clean.
Not all steam cleaners are made for use on carpet. Check the instructions and manufacturer’s details before you use a steam cleaner on your carpet.
Steam can help to get rid of bugs, mold and allergens as well as dirt. They don’t require any additional chemicals and can also be used on surfaces other than carpeting, such as sealed tile. Steam-cleaned carpets dry quickly, and there’s no residue left behind. Steam cleaners are usually lighter machines than your traditional carpet shampooer.
Traditional carpet cleaners use warm water and a specific carpet-cleaning solution. The machine creates a foam, applies it to the carpet and scrubs it in with brushes to loosen dirt. The dirt and remaining shampoo are sucked up by a vacuum and deposited into a tank.
Carpet cleaners help to restore the appearance and extend the life of your carpets. They’re very effective at removing heavy soiling or staining and are great for high-traffic homes. Some cleaning solutions kill germs. Some can only be used on carpets and rugs, while others are safe to use on other types of surfaces, such as hard floors or upholstery.
Solutions for Cleaning Carpet
So what’s the best solution for cleaning carpet? The type of carpet cleaning solution you choose will depend on the type of machine you’re using, what kinds of ingredients you’re comfortable with and what benefits you’re looking for in a cleaner. Some solutions are specifically formulated for certain purposes, such as removing pet stains and preventing resoiling.
No matter what solution you choose, be sure it’s safe for children and any pets you have at home. You also need to check how much surface area a bottle of solution is suitable for. Make sure you have enough for the cleaning project you have in mind.
How to Deep-Clean Your Carpet
Once you’ve rented or bought a carpet cleaner, it’s time to get started. The general steps for using a carpet cleaner are below, but always follow the specific instructions for the machine you’re using.
Method 1: Using a Carpet Cleaner
Method 2: Dry Cleaning Your Carpet
How to Select Dry-Cleaning Products
Before purchasing a dry-cleaning product, check the label to see what types of stains it will work on. You’ll also want to check the coverage area to see how much product you need to buy.
Method 3: Using a Natural Solution
Tips on How to Remove Different Types of Stains
Carpet cleaning can be a big project, but it’s worth it for the cleanliness and appearance of your carpets. You can keep your carpet clean in between deep cleanings with some general maintenance and a few small changes around the home. Maintain and clean your vacuum so it’s working properly and sucking up as much dirt as it can. Vacuum several times a week to keep dirt at bay. Change and clean HVAC filters to ensure that they’re trapping dust. Place door mats near your entryways to collect dirt and debris and have your guests and family remove their shoes at the door. Treat stains immediately and thoroughly when accidents occur. With a little extra effort, your carpets will stay fluffy, soft and clean.
Spot Treatment
Accidental spills happen. When they do, removing the liquid from the fiber’s surface as quickly as possible is key. The sooner you remove the liquid, the less time the liquid has to penetrate and leave a stain. Make sure you blot the spot and don’t rub or scrub.
Small stains can be removed with a carpet cleaning solution or homemade solution. A simple homemade solution is great for water-based stains and can be made by mixing equal parts of white vinegar and water. Apply the solution to the stain and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Use a sponge or white cloth to soak up the solution and stain, and then rinse the area with warm water.
Always test cleaning products or solutions on a small, inconspicuous area before tackling a stain. After spraying the area, use a white cloth to see if the carpet color bleeds. To prevent spreading, work from the outside of the stain to the center.
Tackling Tough Stains
Sometimes, you’ll have to deal with sticky, stubborn carpet stains. These simple techniques can remove them in no time.
Gum
Apply ice to the gum stain. Make sure the gum is completely frozen before peeling it out of the carpet. You can also use a butter knife to scrape it off. It’s okay if the gum cracks or breaks. Repeat the freezing process if necessary. Finally, wet a white cloth with a mixture of dish soap, water and white vinegar and rub it on any remaining gum residue until it’s gone.
Wax
Method 1: Freeze the wax using ice. Make sure the wax is completely frozen, and then use a butter knife to scrape the wax off the carpet. Use a carpet cleaning spray or a mixture of dish soap, water and white vinegar on a white cloth to remove any remaining waxy residue.
Method 2: Use a butter knife to scrape off larger pieces of wax. Dampen a white towel and place it on the wax. With the iron on high, iron over the towel for 10 seconds. Repeat until all wax is removed from the carpet. Use a carpet cleaning spray or a mixture of dish soap, water and white vinegar and work it into the carpet with a spoon. Dab it with a white cloth until it dries to remove any discoloration.
Oil
Place paper towels on the oil stain. With the iron on a warm setting, iron over the paper towels for 10 seconds. Repeat both steps until all oil is removed from the carpet.
Red Wine
Blot as much wine as possible from the surface before covering the stain with salt to soak up the rest of the stain. Leave the salt overnight. Scoop the salt away with a spoon, throw it away and then vacuum the remaining salt from the carpet.
Blood
As with most stains, the key to removing blood is to treat it as soon as possible. If the stain is fresh, fill a spray bottle with cold water. Spray the stain, but don’t saturate the carpet. Next, blot the stain. Repeat the process of spraying cold water and blotting with a clean section of the towel until the stain is gone.
For dried bloodstains, a couple of methods might work. No matter which method you choose, first use a carpet brush to brush the area. This will loosen the blood from the fibers, and then you can vacuum the area.
Method 1: Use a cotton swab or cotton ball to carefully apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain. Don’t oversaturate the stain, as the hydrogen peroxide can penetrate the carpet padding. Allow the area to sit for a few minutes before using a cold, wet cloth to blot the stain. Allow the spot to air-dry.
Method 2: Make a paste of salt and water by pouring salt into a bowl and adding just enough water to create a thin paste. Apply the paste to the stain and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Scrape off the excess paste and blot the area until the stain is gone.
Coffee or Tea
Coffee and tea are acidic and can be difficult to remove. If the stain is fresh, first blot the stain with a dry, clean white cloth or paper towel to soak up excess liquid. Next, mix a solution of 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with 1 tablespoon of clear liquid dish soap. Wait a few minutes before carefully working the solution into the carpet with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. Rinse the stain with cold water, but don’t completely saturate the carpet. Blot dry. Repeat the process until the stain is gone. If the carpet gets oversaturated, cover the area with several clean, dry white towels and weigh them down with a large book or another heavy object.
Nail Polish
Everyday household items such as rubbing alcohol, window cleaner, hairspray and nonacetone dye-free nail polish remover can remove nail polish stains due to their ability to break down and dissolve the polish. Don’t use nonacetone dye-free nail polish remover on darker carpets as it can lead to discoloration.
Whichever method you use, carefully blot the stain first to remove any excess nail polish. Next, pour your preferred product on a cotton ball, cloth or white paper towel and gently dab the stain until it fades. Follow up with a mixture of clear liquid soap and warm water. Soak up excess water with a clean white cloth or paper towel.
Paint
Removing paint stains from carpet depends on the type of paint — oil based or water based. For wet water-based paint, blot the stain with a damp cloth or paper towel until you remove the stain. Use different sections of the cloth or periodically rinse and wring out the cloth so that you don’t transfer the lifted paint back onto the carpet. If the paint has dried, use a mixture of mild, clear liquid dish soap and hot water on the stain. It may help to use a spray bottle for the water. Blot the paint with a damp paper towel but don’t scrub or rub, as this could further push the paint into the carpet fibers. Continue to blot and spray the carpet to keep it damp.
Oil-based paints are a bit tougher to clean. If the paint has dried, snip the top part of the carpet with a pair of scissors. Next, use hot water and clear liquid dish soap to soften the paint.
Carpet cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, acetone or paint thinner all work on paint stains. However, it’s suggested that you test these solutions on an inconspicuous section of carpet first. Hydrogen peroxide may discolor dark carpet, so use it only on light carpet. Spray your solution of choice on the stain to dampen it. You can also pour it onto a damp cloth before pressing it onto the stain to saturate it. Let it sit for a few minutes before blotting. Continue to saturate and blot until the stain is gone.
Oil-based paints emit fumes that can be dangerous. Before working on oil-based paint stains, make sure your space is well ventilated by opening a window or using a fan.
Remove Pet Stains From Carpet and Rugs
If you have indoor pets, chances are that you’ll need to know how to remove pet stains from carpet and area rugs. First, remove as much of the solid matter as you can. Next, blot the stain with a color-safe cloth or plain white paper towel. Continue to blot with the clean part of the cloth until no remaining stain is transferred to the cloth. Then, you can try one of the two methods below.
Method 1: Use a pet stain remover or carpet stain remover to clean the stain. You can find pet stain removers that work for stains on carpet, hard floor surfaces and furniture. For best results, look for a pet stain and odor remover that contains enzymes. The enzymes break up and destroy odor-causing bacteria. With many pet stain removers, you simply spray the cleaner on the stain, wait several minutes and blot the solution up using a clean white cloth. You may need to dampen the stain with water before blotting.
Method 2: As an alternative, you can use a homemade cleaner for pet stains. After you’ve removed the solid matter and as much of the stain as possible with a dry cloth, blot the stain with a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water.
For day-to-day cleaning of pet hair from carpets, rugs and furniture, consider a vacuum cleaner designed for homes with pets. These machines have tangle-resistant brushes.
FAQs on How to Clean Carpet
Here are some questions you may have on carpet cleaning.
How Do I Deep Clean My Carpet Myself?
You can clean carpet yourself using the directions outlined above.
How Do You Clean Very Dirty Carpet?
For heavily soiled carpet, you may have to spot treat certain parts before you can use an overall cleaning method. See the instructions above for details.
How Do Professionals Deep Clean Carpet?
Professionals often clean carpets using a chemical cleaner and a steam-cleaning technique. You can also purchase steam cleaners for home use if you want to try cleaning the carpet yourself.
How Do You Deep Sterilize Carpet?
The best method for sterilizing carpet without hiring a professional is to mist the surface of the carpet with a mixture of white vinegar diluted with water and allow it to sit overnight. Then you can steam clean your carpet using the manufacturer’s instructions on your machine. Before using this method, be sure to test the solution on an inconspicuous corner of your carpet to make sure it won’t discolor the fabric.