Don’t let stains and daily traffic take their toll.
Keep your carpet looking beautiful with these cleaning techniques.
Carpets warm a home by adding color, pattern, and texture.
Credit: Svetlana Zayats / EyeEm / Getty Images
Frequent vacuuming is the first line of defense against dirt and grit that damages carpet fibers.
Still, carpets also needregular cleaningto keep them looking their best.
Plan to deep-clean your carpet every 12 to 18 months (or more often in high-traffic areas).
Credit: Marty Baldwin
If you have light-colored carpets or kids or pets, consider deep-cleaning them two or three times a year.
Refer to the carpet manufacturer’s guidelines before cleaning the carpet.
Then use our instructions below for how to clean carpets safely and effectively.
Grab a partner to help you remove furniture from the room where the carpet is being cleaned.
Vacuum Carpet
Carpet is similar to an air filter, collecting our home’s dirt and dust.
Christian suggests skipping a weekly whole-home vacuum.
Instead, vacuum high-traffic areas once a week or more.
While vacuuming, take your time and use overlapping strokes.
prior to beginning with a carpet cleaner,vacuum carpets well.
Treat Carpet Stains
Take care ofcarpet stainsas soon as they happen, if possible.
it dry with a clean cloth right away, the stain might not have a chance to set.
Treat any set-in stains or heavily soiled areas with theappropriate carpet stain removal technique.
Manycarpet stain removersand treatments can be found in your kitchen or other things you already have on hand.
Vacuum your carpet as recommended above.
Clean with Carpet Cleaning Machine
Mix the carpet cleaning solution as recommended.
Start opposite the doorway so you don’t have to walk over your freshly cleaned carpet.
Be sure not to get the carpet too wet, and extract as much water as possible.
(This can take some time, so work patiently and thoroughly.)
you could alsouse vinegar after cleaningto help remove any residue left behind by the cleaning process.
Dry Carpet
Ventilate the area to dry the carpet oruse fansto speed dry time.
Don’t get carpets overly wet when using a steam cleaner.
Overwetting can damage the carpet backing and underlay, causing shrinkage, discoloration, and odor.
How to Clean Carpet Odors
In addition to stains, look to your pantry to combatcarpet odors.
Lightly shake baking soda onto carpets.
Pick based on functions rather than price tag," saysMoxie Girl Household Assistantsfounder Amanda Thomas.
Have shedding pets, for example?
Choose avacuum with a hoseand multiple attachments.
Go light, or find one with a removable stair-cleaning attachment.
“I bought my home vacuum five years ago for less than $40.
In addition, Thomas says she often sees vacuums that have stopped working due to a lack of care.
“Protect your investment, no matter how small!”
Hire a reputable professional carpet cleaner to do this time-intensive and tedious job.
Also, remember that neglecting to have your carpets regularly cleaned by a certified pro may void any warranty.
When you hire professionals, your options are steam carpet cleaning and dry extraction carpet cleaning.
Either method (when handled by a qualified carpet cleaning professional) will do wonders for dirty carpets.
Prices may vary widely for essentially the same service, so shop carefully.
Carpet Cleaning Machines: Owning vs.
Renting
While a once- or twice-a-year professional cleaning is recommended, you occasionally might need a DIY carpet cleaning.
Rental machines are available at big-box retailers and home stores.
In addition, you’ll find many carpet steam cleaners to purchase.
Sometimes carpet cleaning products can leave dirt-attracting residue, making carpets look even dirtier.
This is why following all instructions for mixing the cleaning solution, rinsing, anddrying is essential.
You may havelight-colored carpetsand a house full of kids or pets.
In that case, you might want to invest in a professional-style carpet cleaning machine designed for home use.
Keep in mind that your unit might not have the carpet cleaning power that professional models do.
Consider renting a professional-quality steam cleaner for more power.
