Complete guide: How to clean a carpet?

Carpets take a beating over time, but this step-by-step guide will show you how to perform a routine, deep cleaning to keep yours looking brand new.

Most people have a love hate relationship with their rugs. They may look beautiful on your eyes but also seem to absorb stains better than anything else in your home. They are constantly splashed with something. They also trap allergens and can make asthma worse. You will be happy to know that there are a variety of ways and products ready to tackle these problems.
We have the expert advice you'll need to restore your carpet to its former glory.

Possible Tools and Supplies Needed to Clean Carpet

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Carpet brush
• Spray
• Microfiber cloths
• Vacuum cleaner
• Carpet cleaning machine

Before you start cleaning a carpet

When developing a plan on how to clean your carpet, carefully read the labels on any products you plan to use. Typically, the label will tell you if (and how) you will need to test on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure you don't accidentally damage your entire rug.

Once you have treated a small section of your carpet, wait a few hours to ensure there are no adverse reactions, such as a change in color or texture of the fibers, before proceeding with cleaning the remainder of the carpet. your carpet.

How to do routine cleaning?

People with allergies and asthma understand the importance of cleaning carpets regularly, but even if your immune system doesn't alert you when your carpet is dirty, opt for routine cleanings with regular vacuuming to start. .

Vacuuming your carpets regularly is good, but it won't make your carpets look new. This is why you should deep clean them several times a year.

Deep clean a carpet by hand

Using a carpet cleaning machine will be most effective for deep cleaning. If you don't have one and don't want to rent one, there is an alternative solution.

1. Sprinkle baking soda on the surface of your carpet.
2. Mix carpet shampoo (color tested) with lukewarm water; then add the mixture to a spray bottle.
3. Spray the cleaning fluid onto the carpet.
4. Brush with a carpet brush.
5. Dab the area.
6. Spray again with lukewarm water only.
7. Wipe the carpet again.

Yes, it is time consuming, but it is more cost effective than buying or renting a carpet cleaning machine.

In addition to deep cleaning, rotate your carpet once a year to ensure even wear over time. Using a rug pad will extend its lifespan. If it's a wool rug, let it sunbathe once a year. The sun helps disinfect the wool, but watch out for fading. And whatever you do, avoid steam cleaning as it will damage the carpet.

Vacuum your carpet.

Your carpet will naturally accumulate dirt and dander over time, so you should vacuum it often. Depending on the intensity of its use, vacuuming once or twice a month will probably be enough for maintenance. Choose a vacuum cleaner with a special carpet vacuum attachment, which will clean your carpets better than a standard vacuum cleaner.

Start by vacuuming your carpets a few times a month to remove dust and dander. And if you're getting ready to deep clean or clean your carpets, vacuum first. Debris stuck in the fibers can slow you down if you attempt cleaning without vacuuming first.

Another recommendation would also be to shake out your carpets a few times a month and turn them over to vacuum the back. This will remove grain from the carpet foundation.

Removing pet hair from carpet

Pet hair can be a nightmare to remove, but there is a trick that will save you a lot of time: sprinkle the area with baking soda; then vacuum. Baking soda will lift pet hair from the carpet.

Remove pet stains from carpet

They look and smell rather discouraging, but stains caused by your pets are quite easy to remove.

Here's how to clean dog urine from carpet: Use a paper towel to blot up as much urine as possible. Next, mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the area to get rid of the smell. Dab this mixture again with a paper towel.

Cleaning a blood stain from a carpet

Nosebleeds, household injuries… It can happen. Blood stains are hard to avoid and even harder to remove from carpet . Fortunately, you have options:

1. Use a mixture of 2/3 hydrogen peroxide and 1/3 dish soap.
2. Wet a cloth with the mixture; then dab the stain with it.
3. Or soak the cloth for a few minutes in a mixture of cold water and white vinegar
4. Use a paper towel or microfiber cloth to blot it.

Cleaning paint from carpet

A craft project gone wrong? It may sound like a nightmare, but paint is actually easier to remove than it seems. Here's how to remove paint from carpet: First, identify the paint. Is it oil based or water based? Water-based paints will be much easier to clean since many are water soluble.

• Water-based paints

Use a paper towel to blot up any remaining wet paint; then scrape off the rest with a dull knife or razor blade. If there is any paint left on your carpet, dampen a microfiber cloth with rubbing alcohol and tap it onto the stain. If that doesn't work, try applying paint thinner.

• Oil-based paints

For fresh stains, try blotting up excess paint first. If the paint has dried, you will need to use a cloth dampened with paint thinner and possibly a mixture of dish soap and warm water.

Using a carpet cleaning machine

Carpet cleaning machines have a bad reputation for being large and bulky, but these days there are smaller machines that can really simplify carpet cleaning. If you don't see yourself using a carpet cleaning machine regularly or don't have the room to store it, you can rent one from your local home improvement store.

Hire a pro to clean your carpet

If you're not ready to rent or buy a machine, and a stain is really stuck on or your carpet looks like it's on its last legs, the solution to how to clean carpet may be to hire a professional. Professionals use detergents and steam to get in deep, and commercial machines are beasts when it comes to removing bacteria and dirt from any pile of carpet.

Of course, paying a professional will cost more. And companies often charge fees based on the number of rooms they'll clean and the square footage. Before booking a cleaner, weigh the pros (convenience) and cons (cost).