4 Ways to Clean Your Carpets (2024)

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Co-authored byAshley Matuska

Last Updated: June 15, 2023Approved

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   Prepare the room to be vacuumed. Pick up any toys, papers or other objects that will obstruct the passage of the vacuum cleaner.

   • Check for small items like coins that might damage the mechanism.^[1]
   • Remember to look under furniture
   • Dust the blinds, furniture, windowsills, and baseboards first. The falling dust can then be vacuumed up.^[2]
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   Use a nozzle attachment to clean hard to reach areas. Vacuums come with a plethora of attachments that you can use for various purposes.^[3] The edges of the carpets and the baseboards often collect dust which should first be removed.

   • If furniture cannot be moved, use the cranny extension to reach under couches and other pieces to remove dust bunnies.

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   Vacuum both horizontally and vertically. First vacuum the entire room forward and back, then repeat the process going left to right. Carpet fibers are typically twisted, and by going both directions you can ensure that every part of the fiber has been reached.

   • This can especially be helpful if you have pets because it will remove dander and hair.^[4]
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   Vacuum regularly. How "regularly" will depend on a few factors. In general, it's recommended to vacuum at least once a week per person in your household or roughly 20 pounds of pet.^[5] For example, a couple with two cats should vacuum three times a week. A single person with a 60 pound dog should vacuum four times a week. Remember that one of the main reasons to vacuum is to remove hair and dander. A large pet will usually produce more of both compared to a smaller one.

   • If your carpet is visibly soiled with dirt or pet hair but isn't due for cleaning, forget this rule of thumb and vacuum more often.

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   Use a clean white cloth. Rags that have patterns or have been dyed may transfer the color to your carpet, compounding the problem. Paper towels that do not have patterns may also be an adequate solution.

   • Be sure to first blot fresh stains dry with a clean white cloth.^[6] Use an additional clean white cloth when removing the stain left behind after you blot.
   • You can even use a microfiber cloth.^[7]
   • Do not use bristles or brushes as these can damage the fibers of the carpet leaving frayed carpet.
   • Spot cleaning is for recent spills on a small part of your carpet. It is not part of regular carpet maintenance.
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   Pick the right carpet cleaner. There are a variety of commercial carpet detergents available. They typically come in spray bottles or cans to make spot cleaning easier. While there are many "all purpose" removers to choose from, read the label to determine if a particular cleaner is right for your stain and carpet type. It may be better to use a mild cleaning agent.^[8] Keep in mind that stains caused by bodily fluids will often need special attention.

   See Also

   How to clean a carpet – treat stains at home, with or without carpet cleanerHow to Clean Your Carpet the Right WayHow to Clean Area Rugs At Home (Easy Guide, FAQs, And Video)How to Clean Carpet for Floors That Look Like New

   • If you're dealing with a fresh blood stain, blot it with cold water or hydrogen peroxide. Do not use warm water, as this will set the stain. For a dry stain, first blot with hydrogen peroxide and follow up with an enzyme-based detergent.
   • For pet urine, use an enzyme-based cleaner specifically designed for this type of stain. If you are unable to find such a cleaner, blot fresh stains with an ammonia solution followed by a detergent and warm water. Set stains can be lifted with a 1/3 vinegar in water solution. Like fresh stains, follow up with a detergent and finish with water.^[9]
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   Test the cleaning product on a small inconspicuous part of the carpet. Following the directions on the bottle, try it out in a discreet place. Some products may be inappropriate for your carpet, so it is best to test it first. A scrap of carpet or a rarely seen place such as the interior of a closet are good places for testing cleaners.

   • Do not do this test on the stain itself. Its purpose is to check for the carpet's colorfastness. If any dye comes off of your carpet or the cleaner itself leaves behind a stain, try a different one.
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   Dab the affected area. Apply a small amount of product to a clean white cloth and gently blot the stain.^[10] Use only enough product to treat the stain.

   • When it comes to carpets, more product is not better. If soap is left in the carpet it will attract dirt and leave a larger stain than before.
   • Avoid scrubbing the carpet. Pressing hard or rubbing vigorously can drive the stain deeper into the fibers.
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   Rinse the carpet. Using a fresh clean white cloth and water, soak up any remaining soap by blotting the treated area. Do not soak the carpet with water as it may be absorbed into the pad beneath, leading to problems with mold and mildew.

   • Allow the area to air dry completely. If it is a large stain or you used a large amount of water, run a fan or specialty carpet dryer next to the carpet to make it dry more quickly.^[11]

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   Prepare the room to be cleaned. If possible, remove all furniture. For bulky or heavy items that cannot be removed, place plastic under the legs of the piece to protect it from water damage.

   • If professional plastic is not available, cut squares of aluminum foil or wax paper and slide them beneath the feet of the furniture.^[12]
   • Carpet shampooing is sometimes called "steam cleaning." However, this is a misnomer, as these machines actually use hot water and detergent, not steam.^[13]
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   Prepare the carpet. Vacuum thoroughly, first in forward and back then left to right. Be sure to avoid neglecting corners and crannies.

   • Spot-treat major stains in the carpet. The shampooer will remove grime, but it can also set stains more deeply.^[14]
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   Purchase or rent a carpet shampooer. Many grocery or hardware stores offer rentals of cleaners with the appropriate detergent available for purchase.

   • If you are renting the cleaner, prepare the room in advance so you do not need to pay for a longer rental while you complete that step.
   • Ideally the cleaner should have a built-in heating core that will keep the water hot. Read the product description or consult a salesperson prior to renting or purchasing a carpet shampooer.
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   Plan your exit strategy carefully. Once the carpet has been cleaned no one should walk on it until it has dried. Be careful not clean yourself into a corner! Begin at the area farthest from the door and work your way out.

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   Prepare the solution according to the directions on the bottle. Some cleaners come with shampoo included or recommend a certain detergent usually purchasable from the same store. In general, you will fill the water container on the machine with water and a small amount of detergent.

   • Do not add too much soap as it can damage both the machine and your carpets. Some professionals actually advise to use slightly less detergent than what your machine recommends.^[15]
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   Remove your shoes. The damp carpet will attract further dirt and your work will be undone if you wear dirty shoes while cleaning. Instead, wear socks or put plastic bags over your feet or shoes. Specialty booties are also available to place over shoes while cleaning.

   • Some detergents may be harmful after immediate application. Going completely barefoot is not advised.^[16]
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   Allow the extractor to pull up as much water as possible. In general, cleaners are designed to lay down water as you push the machine forward and suck it up as you pull it back. You should pull back very slowly, allowing the machine to pull up as much water as possible.

   • If the carpet stays too damp, or if water soaks through to the carpet pad, it can lead to mold and mildew.^[17]
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   Allow the carpet to dry fully by ventilating the area. Leave windows and doors open to allow for free air circulation. Make sure that the carpet dries completely within 24 hours for mold prevention.^[18]

   • If open windows are not an option, set the air conditioner to a moderate setting (72-78 degrees) and leave the room door open.
   • Any combination of carpet dryers, fans, blowers, dehumidifiers, and air movers may also be use to encourage fast drying.
   • Drying may take 6-12 hours and during that period you should not walk on the carpet or replace the furniture.^[19]
   • Plastic protectors on the feet of bulky furniture may be removed when the carpet has dried completely.
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   Consider cleaning the carpet twice. If soap remains in the carpet after you have steamed it, it will attract more dirt. To thoroughly remove the soap, put a 50-50 mix of white vinegar and water in the machine and repeat the cleaning process. The vinegar will help remove any lingering detergent residue.^[20]

   • It is recommended that carpets in high-traffic areas should be shampooed twice a year, while infrequently used spaces can be done as little as once every 18 months. If you have a light-colored carpet that begins to look dirty, clean it sooner.^[21]

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   Keep mess-making substances away from your carpet. Textiles, such as carpet, are generally much more difficult to clean compared to hard surfaces like tile. It is partly for this reason that many forgo wall-to-wall carpet in kitchens and dining rooms. Relegate as much eating and drinking to non-carpeted areas as possible. ^[22]

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   Remove footwear before walking on your carpet. In many countries, such as Canada and Japan, it is customary to remove your shoes when entering a dwelling. This is typically to prevent dirt from being tracked inside.^[23] Consider taking off your shoes and placing them in a designated spot in your foyer. Doing so will remove a major cause of soiled carpets.

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   Properly train your pets. Make sure your cat, dog, or other small animal does not have any "accidents" on your carpet. If your pet uses a litter box, place it in an area with an easier to clean flooring, such as tile or laminate. If you must put the box in a room with carpeting, place it on a rubber litter mat. These mats will both prevent spills and keep litter from being tracked onto the carpet.^[24]

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   Contain any messes that do occur as soon as possible. Remove any excess staining agents immediately. The longer a stain is left to set, the more difficult it will be to remove.

   • If you spill a colored liquid, mop it up by dabbing it with a clean white cloth. Be sure to use up and down pressing motions rather than scrubbing side-to-side. The latter will make a stain worse by spreading it over a greater area.
   • Vacuum up small particulate matter like dirt.
   • Scrape up solids, such as chewing gum or butter, with a blunt knife.^[25]

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