How to Clean Carpets at Home?

If you have a carpeted home or office space, you will know how important and hard it is to maintain them. Having clean carpets isn’t just an OCD problem, it’s a sign of a healthy environment and a clean space. But at the same time, cleaning carpets is a real task, so most people seek professional help. But many of you would want to know “how to clean carpets at home” because they are just self-helpers. And why not? So being someone in the cleaning services industry, we will walk you through a step-by-step carpet cleaning process at home.

1. Supplies required to clean carpets

Before you step into the carpet cleaning process, you should keep your supplies ready. Here is a list of the essentials required for a carpet cleanup at home:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Carpet cleaner or a mild dish soap
• Clean pieces of white cloth/ sponges
• Warm water
• Soft-bristle brush or scrubber

2. Prepare your carpet

Once you’ve got all your essentials ready, now is the time to prepare your carpet for the cleaning process. Remove all the furniture from the carpets or take the carpets out in an open area if you’re planning a deep cleanup. However weekly cleaning won’t require this.

3. Start with vacuuming

Start the cleaning process by vacuuming the carpets thoroughly. Use vacuum cleaners with good suction pumps so that they pull out all the danger, debris, and pet hair. You should spot the stains while vacuuming the carpets so you can address them afterward. Vacuuming is also important because it exposes the stains by getting the surface dirt out of the way, so you can clean that easily.

4. Spotting and cleaning stains

Now that you have spotted all the stains, it’s time to address them one by one. For mild and fresh stains, you can simply soak a clean cloth in a mixture of warm water and dab (not rub) them. If plain water doesn’t help, you can mix any mild carpet cleaner or dishwasher with it. However, it won’t be of any help in case of old and stubborn stains. So you would need a good quality commercial carpet cleaner for them. This way you can clean all the stains.

5. Deep cleaning the carpet

Once all the dirt and stains are removed, now is the time to do a deep cleanup. You can do so either by hand or with a professional carpet cleaning machine.

1. Deep carpet cleanup by hand
   • In case you want to do the deep cleaning by hand, you first need to have a cleaning solution.
   • You can either buy a good solution or make one at home by mixing white vinegar/ carpet cleaner with warm water.
   • Then use a carpet cleaning brush with soft bristles and gently scrub the carpet in circular motions.
   • Now rinse the carpet with warm water and let it air dry.


2. Deep carpet cleanup by a professional carpet cleaning machine

   Some people don’t like deep cleaning by hand, so for them, carpet cleaning machines are the best. Although these machines are a bit bulky and most people don’t have the space to store them, you have the option to rent one when needed. These machines generally come with instruction manuals so you can operate them accordingly. Having said that, it’s recommended to first get done with vacuum cleaning and stain removal, so you can get the most optimum results from the machine cleaning. Once done, just add your carpet cleaning formula to the machine and complete the cleaning process. Let the carpets dry completely before you use them.

Tips to maintain your carpets between cleanups

1. Immediate stain removal

You cannot completely protect your carpets from getting stains. But you can manage them. Try to be quick in picking stains or else they will mature and dealing with mature carpet stains is a real hassle. As soon as you spill tea or coffee or any other liquid, try to absorb as much liquid as possible using a clean cloth (sometimes soaked in water). Avoid rubbing the stains harshly as it will not only push the stains deeper into the carpet but also damage them. If plain water doesn’t remove the stains, you can mix it with some good-quality carpet stain remover.

2. Regular vacuuming

Another key to carpet maintenance is regular vacuuming. Depending on the usage, you can schedule vacuuming. As a general rule of thumb, you should vacuum your carpets twice or thrice a week. This helps in removing dust, debris, and allergens and keeps your space clean and tidy.

3. Using doormats and shoe rules

Doormats and shoe rules can take a lot of cleaning load off your shoulders. Try to place mats at entrances to limit dust in your rooms. Similarly, make shoe rules so you can block soil and other dirt from getting absorbed into your carpets.

4. Managing Pets’ Impact on Carpets

You won’t believe how great of an impact pet management can cast on your carpet cleaning ritual. Pet shedding slowly contributes to carpet untidiness. So it’s important to brush your cats, especially cats and dogs to minimize shedding. Those with naughty pets should always look out for pet accidents and manage them immediately before the stains become stubborn and a professional cleanup is the only option left.

Bottom Line!

In short, clean carpets are everybody’s dream. But it requires regular efforts to achieve that goal. Some of you take professional carpet cleaning services but many prefer DIY carpet cleaning. Between these regular carpet cleanups at home, maintenance should not be overlooked. A good balance of both ensures clean carpets that stay longer and give your space a tidy look.