If there’s one chore we put off for as long as possible, it’s cleaning the carpets. And there’s no wonder, considering the effort that goes into it: furniture needs moving out of the room, individual stains need repeated scrubbing and everyone needs to stay out while it’s left to slowly dry. The good news is, it doesn’t need to be this way.
Cleaning the carpets is very easy once you have the technique down, and with the right products and application, stains can be removed in a jiffy. It still takes time, it’s true, but you can speed things up. You might even find the process satisfying and rewarding! Want to know how? We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about cleaning carpets, including what to do if you don’t have a carpet cleaning machine, so you can get rid of any stains and remove unwanted smells with ease.
How do I clean my carpet myself?
To give your full carpet a refresh, you need to either buy or rent a carpet cleaner to go over the surface. This, coupled with a carpet cleaning solution (ideally one suited to the types of stains you’re dealing with), is perfect for large spaces. You pass the machine over the carpet, much like a vacuum cleaner, and in the process it applies the cleaning solution, working it in with the bristles, and vacuums up the excess.
If you’ve never cleaned your carpets before, you should always test in an inconspicuous area first, and make sure the solution is suitable for the carpet as well as any pets you have in the home.
Before you begin, you should plan out when to clean your carpets to avoid disruption. If you intend to do all the carpets in your home, work through them one at a time on different days, so you don’t have to cordon off too many rooms at once. This is one reason for why it’s better to buy rather than rent, as you’re not restricted on time.
You will first need to empty the room of any furniture, so you can access the full carpet. Next, give it a vacuum to remove any dust and debris. Use the attachment recommended for carpets with a rotating brush bar or raise the brush in the floor head if you have a cylinder vacuum cleaner.
Now, you need to look over the carpet. If there are any stubborn stains, you’re better off pre-treating these before you use the carpet cleaner over the whole space. The carpet cleaning solution you’re using with the machine can often be used for this, but check the instructions on the pack first.
Before the main event comes one last thing: make sure you know the order you’re going to work through the room. This is a lot like mopping, and you don’t want to trap yourself in a corner! Your carpet cleaner might come with alternative settings depending on how dirty your carpet is, so use the most appropriate one. Open the windows in the room before you start as well; the more ventilation there is, the faster it will dry.
The best route is to move up and down gradually, in overlapping strips, moving much more slowly compared to when you use the vacuum cleaner. It’s a good idea to start against the furthest wall away from the door and work your way back towards it, keeping a lane free for your feet as you back into it (this will be the final strip you go over). Multiple passes may be needed on stained areas. If your carpet cleaner comes with a rinse setting, you can use this to rinse the carpet once you’ve applied the cleaning solution; do this as you work your way along to prevent treading on wet carpet. You don’t want to leave your carpet sodden as it can encourage mould, so do more ‘vacuum only’ passes to get it as dry as possible along the way. This speeds up the drying time, too.
Once you’ve finished, leave your carpet to dry. The time it takes will depend on the thickness of your carpet as well as the air circulation, but a few hours is usually enough. Don’t forget to clean and store your carpet cleaner once you’re finished, too.
According to Faye Doolittle, senior product manager at Vax: “After you’ve finished cleaning your carpets, empty the clean and dirty water tanks, then rinse these and any filters thoroughly with warm water. If your carpet washer has a separate solution tank, pour the cleaning solution back into the bottle, then it’s ready for use next time; this should not be kept in the tank in between uses.
“Finally, remove the nozzle on the floorhead and rinse this with warm water to remove any dirt and debris. Some models, such as the VAX Platinum SmartWash, also have removable brush bars for easy cleaning and maintenance. Leave all tanks and floor head components to air dry before fitting back on to your carpet cleaner and storing it away.”
How do I remove stains from the carpet?
A carpet cleaner may be able to handle everyday stains, but more stubborn ones can prove tricky. Plus, if you’re dealing with a sudden stain, it won’t be convenient to unpack the full carpet cleaning machine. In these cases, you should treat the stain as soon as possible by hand.
Depending on the stain, you need to remove the excess first. For liquids, blot away what you can without spreading or rubbing, working from the outside in. For solids, remove what you can with a blunt knife before using a cleaning solution. If you’re dealing with a greasy stain, apply talcum powder and leave for a few minutes, then brush it loose and vacuum.
There are plenty of generic cleaners you can buy, such as HG Stain Remover Spray or more specific ones suited to the stain, such as Dr. Beckmann Pet Stain and Odour Remover or Chateau Spill Red Wine Stain Remover. There are also spot cleaning machines, which are essentially smaller versions of carpet cleaners (your carpet cleaner may even have a similar attachment). These are brilliant if you regularly deal with sudden spills on your carpets and upholstery.
If you’re cleaning a fresh stain from an old carpet, the carpet may appear lighter where you’ve treated it. In these instances, you’ll need to wash the entire carpet to even it out.
How do you get indents out of the carpet?
Your carpet may look clean, but indents left behind by furniture can ruin things, especially if you’ve moved items around. Luckily, there’s a quick fix for this. Simply place an ice cube on the indent, let it melt a little before removing, and tease the carpet pile with a brush to revive it. Try not to use too much ice as you don’t want to leave the carpet sodden. To avoid indents in the future, you can fit rests to your furniture, such as X-Protector Furniture Sliders.
How to clean a carpet without a machine?
There are products you can use if a carpet cleaning machine isn’t available. One useful item most of us will already have in the cupboard is bicarbonate of soda.
If your carpets smell musty, bicarb can come to the rescue. By applying it directly to the carpet, it will actively deodorise by neutralising any acidic and alkali molecules. So all you need to do is sprinkle it over the surface (a sieve can help with this), leave it overnight to work its magic, then vacuum it away the following day.
For large amounts of carpet – and therefore bicarb – check your vacuum would be suitable with the manufacturer first, to avoid invalidating the warranty.
There are proprietary cleaners that can be applied to the surface and vacuumed away, too, much like bicarb. An example would be Vanish Oxi Action Carpet Powder Deep Cleaner. And some just need to be worked into the surface, such as Zoflora Carpet Foam.
While you might not have access to a carpet cleaner, a steam cleaner can come in useful if you happen to have one of those. Some come with attachable carpet gliders to help deal with light soiling.
There’s always the option to apply a carpet shampoo by hand, following the dilution instructions on pack. Although this will take time and requires a lot of elbow grease and scrubbing (so it won’t be suitable for long-pile or delicate carpets). Plus, you’ll need to take care that you don’t oversaturate the carpet in the process. That’s why a carpet cleaning machine really is the best method for application over large areas.
How often should you clean your carpet?
We recommend professionally cleaning your carpets at least once a year. If someone in your home has allergies, or there are pets running around, once every six months is best.
When to call in an expert
If your carpets are particularly expensive or delicate, or you just can’t get the stains out, a professional cleaner may be the better way to go. Check out the National Carpet Cleaners Association for local recommendations. They’ll be both professionally trained and insured.
FAQs
What is the best way to clean carpets?
The best way to clean carpets is by way of a carpet cleaner combined with a carpet cleaning solution. These appliances can work the cleaner into the pile, then vacuum up the excess moisture in one swoop, preventing the surface from being left sodden. This saves a lot of time and effort compared to cleaning by hand. But if you’re dealing with a sudden stain, such as red wine or grease, a carpet cleaner alone might not cut it. You’ll need to either pre-treat the stain prior to cleaning or use a spot cleaner for immediate removal.
How do you get dirt out of carpets?
Dirt and mud get trodden into carpets when shoes are worn around the house. If the mud’s still wet, leave it to dry first before dealing with it. Once it’s dry, you can use a brush to sweep off the excess before vacuuming it away. Then use a spot cleaner to remove what remains before rinsing (without saturating) and leaving to dry.
Alternatively, washing-up liquid mixed with cool water can remove it, too, but you should test this first. Blot with damp towels, then rinse and blot dry.
