How to Clean Carpet at Home – Stress-free Ways to Remove Stains

A very popular flooring option is wall-to-wall carpet, but the foot traffic and spills might make it look a little dingy. Knowing how to keep your carpet clean will make it look very good and it will last longer. These carpet cleaning tips will make sure that your carpets don’t look dull.

3 Hassle-free Methods of Cleaning Your Carpets at Home

1. Vacuuming the Carpet

• Prepare the room before you start vacuuming it. Pick up any paper, toys, and other objects that might create disturbances while vacuuming.
• Check for little items like coins on the carpet.
• Use the nozzle to clean the tough areas. The edges of the baseboards and carpets always collect dust which should be removed first.
• Vacuum both vertically and horizontally. Vacuum the entire room forward and back and then left to right.
• Carpet fibres are sort of twisted and when you go both directions, you can make sure that every part of the fibre is reached. This can be really helpful if you have pets because it will remove hair and dander.

2. Using a Carpet Cleaner

• For cleaning carpet manually use a clean white cloth because coloured or patterned rags might transfer the colour to the carpet. Paper towels without patterns might also be a good solution.
• First, with the white cloth be sure to blot fresh stains dry. Use an additional cloth to remove the stain that is left behind after you blot.
• Do not use brushes or bristles as these might damage the carpet fibres and leave a frayed carpet.
• Pick the perfect carpet cleaner. Though there are many ‘all-purpose’ cleaners available, read the label to see if it is good for your stain and the carpet type. Stains which are caused by bodily fluids will often need extra attention.
• Test the product on a small part of the carpet. Try the product out in a discreet place following the directions on the bottle.
• However, never test this on the stain. The purpose of this is to check the carpet’s colourfastness.
• If the colour seems to be coming off or if the cleaner is leaving stains, try a different one.
• Next, dab the affected area. Use just enough product to treat the stain because more products on carpets are not good.
• Using fresh water and a clean cloth, rinse the carpet. Soak up the remaining soap by blotting the treated area.
• Allow the area of the carpet to air dry completely.

3. Using a Carpet Shampoo

• Prepare the room before you start cleaning it. If possible, try to remove all the furniture or place plastic under the legs of the furniture to avoid water damage. If you don’t have professional plastic, cut squares of wax paper or aluminium and slide under the feet.
• Vacuum the carpet thoroughly and spot-treat major stains. This is because shampooer might set stains more deeply.
• Rent or purchase a carpet shampooer. Ideally, to keep the water hot, the cleaner always has a built-in heating core. Read the description or consult with the salesperson before purchasing or renting a carpet shampooer.
• After the carpet is cleaned, no one should walk on it until it is completely dry. Therefore, plan an exit strategy. Do not clean yourself into a corner.
• According to the directions on the bottle, prepare the solution. Avoid adding excess soap as it might damage your carpets and the machine.
• Remove your footwear because damp carpets attract dirt. Put plastic bags over your feet or wear socks. Going barefoot is not recommended since some detergents are harmful on immediate application.
• Let the extractor pull as much water as possible. If the carpet is very damp or if it soaks through the pad it might cause mould and mildew.
• Allow the carpet to completely dry by ventilating the room. Open the doors and windows for air circulation.

Additional Easy Tricks to Remove Stains on the Carpet

Here is how you could clean carpet stains by its types.

1. Oils (Grease, Makeup, Crayon)

• Try to scrape off the stain as much as possible. Use a cloth or towel to put rubbing alcohol on the area and blot with a clean towel.
• If the stain is deep, repeat the process a few more times.

2. Rust

• Put lemon juice on the stain and sprinkle with some cream of tartar.
• Rub the area in the solution for 15-30 minutes or until the rust is completely gone.
• Blot the area with cloth or towel soaked in clean water.
• Avoid scrubbing, so the rust stain doesn’t spread. Dry the area of the stain with a towel.

3. Organic (Berries, Blood, Fruit juice)

• Pour 1-2 cap-fulls of hydrogen peroxide directly on the stained area. It is best to use the 3% solution found in drugstores.
• Leave it on for 5 minutes and then dab the area with water soaked sponge or soft cloth.
• Use a towel to dry the area.

4. Mud

• Let the mud dry and then break it into small pieces and vacuum.
• Mix some warm water with a few drops of liquid dish soap and put it on the soiled area.
• Dab with a soft cloth or sponge. Use a towel to dry.

5. Pet urine

• Mix 1 cup of warm water and 1 cup of white vinegar and put them in a spray bottle.
• Spray on the area. Let it remain for around 5 minutes and then blot the area with a clean cloth.
• Sprinkle baking soda on the stain for extra cleaning powder and then clean with some vinegar/water mixture.

6. Ketchup and Other Acidic Materials

• Mix 1 cup of warm water and 1 tbsp of ammonia. Put this in a spray bottle.
• Spritz the solution on the stain and blot the excess liquid out with a clean towel.
• Repeat this until the stain is gone. As a backup, clean the stain with hydrogen peroxide.

Tips to Prevent Carpet Stains

• Keep the substances that might make stains away from the carpet. Try to eat and drink in non-carpeted areas.
• Remove footwear before walking on the carpet. You can avoid soiled carpets by doing this.
• Train your pets properly. Make sure your pet does not have any accidents on the carpet.
• Remove excess staining agents as soon as possible. The longer you leave the stain, the more difficult it will be to remove.

FAQs

1. How Often I Should Clean My Carpets?

In general, it is best to do it at least once a week. How regularly you do it depends on factors like the size of your carpet, because one of the main reasons to vacuum is to remove the dander and hair. If your carpet is visibly soiled with pet hair or dirt, it is better to vacuum more often.

2. How do I Dry a Soaked Carpet?

Air drying the carpet is the best option. If the stain is really large, run a fan or a carpet dryer to dry quickly.

3. How to Remove Wax Dropped From the Carpet?

Let the wax harden completely and then scrape off as much as you can. Vacuum it away. Over the remaining wax, place an absorbent paper like brown paper or un-dyed blotting paper and iron over the top on medium with an iron set. The iron will melt the wax which is then absorbed by the paper.

4. How to Clean up Hair From the Carpet?

Hair can be removed from the carpet by vacuuming it forward and back and then from left to right.

5. How to Remove Oil Stain From the Carpet?

Mix water with some white vinegar. Spray it on the stain and wait for 5 minutes. Rub it off with a soft and clean cloth until the stain is gone.

6. How to Remove Acrylic Paint off the Carpet?

You can mix some dish soap in warm water to remove this stain and then scrub it off using the rough side of the sponge.

It is best to deep clean your carpet at least once a year. Renting a steam cleaning machine is the best way to clean the carpet as it puts soapy, hot water on the carpet and then extracts it properly.

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