How to Deep Clean Carpet

If you need to clean a carpet in an apartment or home where you’ll be living temporarily, renting a carpet cleaner is likely a more economical choice. 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 room to store the appliance 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 for purchase, 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 a carpet cleaner allows you to clean your carpet at your convenience.

Sometimes, you’ll have to deal with sticky, stubborn carpet stains. These simple techniques can remove them in no time.

Gum or Wax
Apply ice and 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. The same method can be used for wax stains.

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 the 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, you should 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.