Here's How to Actually Get Your Carpet Clean (and Keep It That Way) (2023)

FAQs

What are the three 3 most common ways to clean carpet? ›

Cornmeal, Borax, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, rosemary, cinnamon and more are all household items that can help you clean your carpeting and keep it free from mold.

Pour a small amount of vinegar on the stain, followed by a sprinkle of baking soda. The vinegar works to saturate and soften up the offending mark while the baking soda does the lifting and deodorizing. Together, they bubble a little and work as a team to lift the stain to the surface.

Steam cleaning works best for the removal of ingrained dirt and deep stains, and doesn't leave any residue or odors in your carpeting. Especially if you have pets, this is the best method for getting smelly stains out.

Natural & Cheapest Way to Clean Carpet At Home!

You can take a stiff brush, spray bottle, detergent, table salt, or some baking soda and dry towels. Add some soap and water solution to a spray bottle. Sprinkle baking soda or salt on the stained areas and spry the water soap mixture on the same area.

Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax, and 1/4 cup vinegar, then apply this paste to deep stains or heavily soiled sections of carpet. Allow the paste to sit on the carpet for several hours until it dries completely, then vacuum it away.

Vinegar removes odors and loosens many food stains from carpet fibers. For cleaning and deodorizing, mix equal parts vinegar and water, then spray the solution onto the stain.

You can try a mixture of white vinegar, Dawn dish soap, and water in a spray bottle. Use 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1 tbsp. of Dawn dish soap, and fill with water. Spray area liberally and let soak for 5-10 minutes and then proceed with blotting with a clean, dry towel until stain is removed.

There are times when we run out of stock for our cleaning solutions or homemade carpet cleaning solutions. But you don't have to worry as you can easily use laundry detergent as a carpet cleaner.

What is the best homemade carpet cleaner and deodorizer? ›

Vinegar. Clean the carpet with vinegar to both deodorize and spot clean. Put white or apple cider vinegar into a spray bottle along with some warm water (about one-half to one cup of vinegar for each gallon of water), and spray the area well. After spraying, let the area dry completely.

This can move along a lot quicker if you use vinegar and baking soda together, but baking soda on the stain by itself on the stain can be effective. Allow the baking soda to neutralise a stain overnight. 8 hours is beneficial but 12 hours is ideal.

How Long Do You Leave Baking Soda on Carpet? When cleaning your carpet with baking soda, let it sit for at least 15 minutes. The longer the baking soda stays on the rug, the more odor, dirt, and oil it will absorb, for a more thorough clean. Try leaving baking soda on the carpet overnight and vacuuming in the morning.

Carpets that still look dirty or have stains reappear after cleaning is a result of something called wicking. This is due to over wetting the carpet, the backing, and pad which causes them to return back to the surface once dry.

The method we use for carpet cleaning is hot water extraction, commonly referred to as steam cleaning. Stanley Steemer's exclusive hot water extraction method removes the toughest, deepest dirt safely and gently. Hot, soft water and a specially formulated cleaning solution are injected deep within the carpet fibers.

Also, the hotter the water, the more you're going to flash off the active ingredients. You're going to put the active ingredients in the air and not on the floor.” With cold water, the cleaning chemicals stay where they belong — in the carpet — which is better for users' lungs, as well as for cleaning.

TLDR: Baking soda can be used to clean carpet because it is a powerful alkaline solution that when combined with acid produces dioxide gases. These oxidized gases are highly effective at removing stains from carpet and other materials with ease.

In a bowl or small bucket, mix one part white vinegar with three parts water. Dip the bristles of the scrub brush into the solution and rub them into the carpet. Massage them into the fibers well (without fully saturating the carpet) and follow up with a cloth to help blot excess moisture.

Baking soda is an excellent choice for cleaning heavily soiled carpet, as it absorbs mud, grease, and other unsightly residues. To use baking soda over your entire carpet, sprinkle it heavily along the surface and then grind or push it into the fibers using a fresh, dry sponge mop.

How do you make old carpet look new? ›

It's not unusual for DIY carpet cleaners to need eight or even 10 passes on a carpet before the water runs clear. This is especially true when: It has been a long time since your carpet was last deep-cleaned.

People wonder, “How often should you shampoo carpets?” and “Do carpet cleaners get stains out?” Professionals recommend having someone professionally clean your carpets every 12 to 18 months to remove dirt. Between professional carpet cleanings, you should be maintaining your household's cleanliness.

Saturate the stain with white vinegar. Sprinkle dry baking soda over the area, making sure to cover the whole patch. You should begin to hear a fizzing sound which means the reaction is working. Wait until the vinegar has completely dried - preferably overnight.

Those with deep-pile carpeting may need to work the powder using a broom or bristle brush. Allow the baking soda to sit at least 30 minutes, but overnight is the best choice for seriously dirty carpets or heavy odors. Run a vacuum across treated areas once or twice to remove the baking soda.

Spray the hydrogen peroxide cleaner all over the stain. Make sure that you cover the whole stain. All the carpet fibers must be drenched in peroxide cleaner. Let it sit for about 30 minutes.

Carpet fibers are one of the most difficult surfaces to clean. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can penetrate deep into the fibers to remove dirt, grime, and stains.

To make the solution is simple and easy on the wallet! Pour equal parts of vinegar and Dawn into a spray bottle. Gently shake, then spray liberally onto the surface to be cleaned. I have found the best results is when I use it to clean chrome shower and sink fixtures.

Can I use Pine Sol to clean my carpet? ›

Give Original Pine-Sol a try to help clean carpet stains and more. Rub in a splash of Original Pine-Sol^® where needed. You can spot-treat grease or heavy dirt marks, or use all-around for a refresh. If you're not sure your carpet is colorfast, be sure to test an inconspicuous area first.

Instructions. Mix clear dish soap with warm water in a small bucket. If the stain is fresh, use a rag or a paper towel to blot up (don't rub, which can press the stain deeper into the fibers of your carpet) as much excess liquid as possible. Pour the soap and water mixture onto the stain.

It's really straightforward – all you need to do is sprinkle a generous among of baking soda over your wet carpet and let it sit. The baking soda not only absorbs moisture, but it'll also absorb any nasty odours.

You can remove virtually any type of high traffic stain from your carpet by using a combination of water, vinegar, and baking soda. This method is less harmful than most commercial carpet cleaning processes and is much more affordable.

Why Use Baking Soda On Your Carpet. Baking soda is a proven odor absorber, plus it's cheap and all-natural. “Baking soda's particles go deep down into the carpet, past the point you can't even see, all the way to the base to absorb and neutralize odors.

Treat Food and Drink Stains

Liberally sprinkle the stained area with baking soda. Wet a paper towel or old cloth with water, wring so it is not dripping, and place it over the baking soda. Let the towel in place for several hours or overnight. Vacuum away the baking soda.

The longer you can allow the baking soda to sit, the better it can work to absorb odors—if you can afford to leave it on the carpet for a few hours or even overnight, you'll really reap the benefits. But you can still use the mixture for a quick 15-minute application and enjoy the smell and a little deodorizing boost.

White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.

Cleaning is often achieved with detergent, water and agitation, with the visible dirt and detergent then rinsed and removed with clean water. Detergents are chemicals that remove dirt and grease, however detergents do not kill bacteria and other microorganisms.

What are the two basics of cleaning? ›

There are two basic principals in all cleaning; pH and physical removal. Physical removal is one of the best microbial decontamination processes. It lessens the numbers of pathogens from all surfaces as well as removes the food sources that aide in their growth.

When doing your thorough cleaning, dust the room before vacuuming so you can vacuum up the particles that float into the air as you work and settle on the floor.

First, clear the floor of all items, such as baskets, towels, toilet plungers, etc. Second, sweep up any dust that collected on the floor, especially in the corners. Third, use a vacuum to remove any remaining debris. Fourth, mix warm water and an all-purpose cleaner in a bucket, and mop the floor.

Clean from the top down

Don't fight gravity when you clean. You'll lose. Working from high to low almost always works better in cleaning situations. When you're cleaning the entire house, start on the top floor and work your way down to avoid tracking through rooms you have already cleaned.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Simply mix half a cup of white vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda into half a gallon of water. You're done! The vinegar scent can be off-putting so you may consider adding lemon juice for a more citrus-y scent.