DIY Carpet Cleaning: What You Need To Know
Carpeting is constantly exposed to people, dust, and dirt. DIY Carpet Cleaning: What You Need to Know will show you how to clean carpeting the easy way, and why it’s important to clean them regularly.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I earn a commission on some purchases when you click on links in this post. This occurs at no additional charge to you. There may be additional affiliate links, not belonging to Amazon, in this post also.
Thank you for your support!
DIY Carpet Cleaning: What You Need To Know
Remove Dirt and Debris
The first step in effectively cleaning your carpets is removing any loose dirt or dust.
Vacuum the entire area thoroughly, paying special attention to spots where people have recently gathered.
Even better if you can use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, as this will help capture more dirt particles from the air and from carpets fibers.
The most important factor in keeping your carpets looking their best is finding the right vacuum to suit your needs.
Heavy traffic areas require more suction power so that dirt, dust, and pet hair don’t accumulate over time.
When looking for vacuum cleaners, make sure you look for one that has a brush roll specifically designed for your type of carpet.
Furthermore, besides making them look cleaner, regular vacuuming also prevents dirt and debris from settling deep within the fibers of our carpets.
When vacuuming, try to cover all sections of the room where your carpet resides several times – especially in high-traffic areas.
The frequency of vacuuming should depend on how much traffic your carpets attract; weekly vacuuming is recommended for most households with some pets or children.
Regularly vacuuming your carpets helps remove surface dirt, making them easier to deep clean without further damaging fibers.
If you have pets in the house, be sure to use pet-specific vacuum cleaners with agitator brushes that can reach deep into piles.
Do not forget to go over all steps, doorways, foyers, and high traffic carpets several times during vacuuming and then move furniture around, so you don’t miss any sections.
Use Spot Treatments to Remove Stains
Once you have vacuumed the area, it’s time to spot clean any lingering stains or spills with a mild detergent mixed with warm water.
If there are any noticeable stains on your carpet, pre-treat them using a mild detergent solution before beginning the general cleaning process.
Make sure that the detergent is designed for carpets and dilute it according to package instructions.
To remove these stubborn spots, you’ll need spot treatment products that are specifically designed to break down grease and oil-based stains with ease.
Apply the solution directly to any stained areas and allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes before blotting dry with a white cloth or paper towel.
Don’t scrub too hard when spot treating; otherwise, you could cause more damage than good by pushing the stain further down into the fibers of the carpet.
It’s important not to scrub away at a stain as this could cause further damage – just let the solution work its magic, followed by a rag to wipe off any residue left behind.
Use an Odor Remover
If there are stubborn odors in your carpet despite regular vacuuming sessions, try using an odor remover specifically designed for carpets.
Use an enzyme deodorizer on top of your carpets before vacuuming. Doing so will absorb any remaining odors in addition to removing visible dirt and debris particles from below.
Carpet can be a nightmare to keep clean, especially when vacuuming and spot cleaning are involved. But with the right tools and techniques, it doesn’t have to be too difficult!
Use Carpet Cleaner According To the Directions
When it comes to cleaning high traffic areas of your carpet, it is always best to use carpet cleaner according to directions provided by the manufacturer.
Test each product in an inconspicuous corner in order to make sure that they do not adversely affect your carpets’ color or texture.
Apply cleaner in small doses over small areas at a time before allowing it time to absorb into individual fibers for maximum coverage without saturation.
Rinse And Extract Excess Moisture
After letting the cleaner sit for as long as recommended by its instructions. Then rinse out all remaining product with hot water before extracting any excess moisture left behind.
Rinsing helps remove residual debris left behind by cleaners while extracting pulls out deep-seated dirt particles that may have escaped conventional vacuuming or shampooing processes alone.
By taking these extra steps towards thorough care, you can be sure that no allergens or other pollutants remain inside carpets after they have been professionally cleaned!
An extractor machine uses a combination of suction and cleaning solution to deep clean carpets without damaging them.
Start by filling the machine’s tank with hot water and your choice of detergent, and then slowly move it over your high traffic area in overlapping strokes until all of the solution has been extracted from the carpet.
Allow the area to air dry completely before use, and avoid walking on it while wet if possible.
How to Extend the Life of Your Carpet
Carpets are a common part of many homes, providing a comfortable and attractive base for decorations, furnishings, and more. But if you don’t take proper care of it, carpets can quickly become worn down, faded, or stained.
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to ensure the carpet in your home stays looking beautiful and new for many years to come. Here’s how to extend the life of your carpets:
Vacuum Easy-to-Reach Areas Regularly
Even if you have wall-to-wall carpets, regular maintenance is essential if you want them to last.
The best way to keep carpets clean is through vacuuming. Aim to vacuum easy-to-reach areas once a week and heavily trafficked areas at least twice weekly. This prevents dirt from accumulating in between treatments and helps maintain your carpet’s appearance longer-term.
If you have pets in the household, increase the frequency even more so as to keep their fur from settling into the carpet fibers.
Finally, no matter how often you deep clean or spot treat your carpets, it’s still important to keep up with regular vacuuming.
Use Entryway Mats
Small area rugs placed at entry points into your home can help absorb additional dirt particles left an otherwise inevitable part of people entering through these points day in and day out.
By trapping excess moisture and Filtering out debris, these small mats will keep more dirt from getting traffic through the rest of the house- cutting down on what needs spot treatment or full deep cleanings later on.
Carpeted areas will likely collect dirt, dust, and other airborne particles more easily than non-carpeted surfaces.
Spot Clean Stains Immediately
Be sure to check high traffic zones like hallways and living rooms regularly for dirt left behind by guests’ or family members’ shoes.
When spills do occur (and they will), act quickly to clean up the mess before it has time to set in.
Different types of stains require different cleaning techniques, so here’s a guide on carpet stain removal techniques you can use.
When it comes to stains such as spilled food or pet accidents on carpets, it’s important to act fast on tackling them so as not to let them set in permanently.
Use a damp cloth to blot away any excess liquid, then use an appropriate stain remover specific for that type of stain, following the directions laid out on the packaging carefully.
If treating with solvents, always remember to blot towards the center of the stain from the outer edges to avoid spreading it further across your carpet fibers.
Replace Old Or Damaged Fibers
If pet hair has accumulated deep within your rugs or carpets over time, making it hard for you to thoroughly vacuum out all of it, consider investing in an upholstery rake instead. These fantastic tools allow you to safely remove embedded fur from surfaces without damaging fabric or fibers.
If too much of your carpet has frayed fibers due to general wear due over time – then consider replacing entire sections or address this issue with professional reweaving services. These services are designed with effective solutions for restoring lifelike vibrancy back into older carpets again!
Deep Clean High Traffic Carpet Areas Monthly
You should plan on deep cleaning your carpet every month or two depending on how often it’s used; if used more heavily, go deeper more often – up to every two weeks.
To get rid of ground-in dirt, regular deep cleaning is essential.
You may hire professional carpet cleaners once or twice a year to deep clean and sanitize your carpets or use a rented steam cleaner at home to give them an extra deep clean every few months.
Once cleaned, let the air dry naturally, as using an excessive amount of heat from blowers could cause shrinkage of adjacent fibers.
Steam Clean Your Carpets Every 6 Months
A more thorough approach to cleaning your highly trafficked carpets is steam cleaning every six months.
Steam cleaning also reaches concealed dirt and bacteria that might otherwise be missed during regular vacuum cleaning sessions, thus improving air quality indoors too.
Depending on how frequently your carpets are used, steam cleaning can easily become an annual commitment!
Schedule Professional Cleaning Once a Year
When in doubt about how best you should clean those family spaces with heaps of footfall, take into consideration calling in professional cleaners at least one time per year – no matter what condition you think your carpets may be in at present.
Experienced employees know precisely which techniques and detergents work best for removing stubborn dirt from particular fabrics and materials. It’s usually in everyone’s interest to outsource this job once each year.
Natural Ways to Deodorize Carpet Areas
If you own a home or business, you know how quickly carpets can become smelly. Despite your best efforts to keep these areas clean, odors from pet accidents, food, and everyday dirt can linger for months.
Fortunately, there are numerous natural ways to deodorize carpets and help keep them smelling fresh without the need for strong chemicals.
Read on to learn about some of the most effective natural ways to deodorize carpet areas.
Vacuum Regularly
Regular vacuuming helps remove debris and odor-causing particles that tend to accumulate in carpet areas.
Make sure your vacuum has an adjustable brush setting so you can raise it high enough to strip away unwanted dirt but not too low as this might damage the fibers of your carpet.
Depending on the type of carpet in the area being treated, vacuuming at least once every week should do the trick.
Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is one of the most efficient methods for removing ground-in dirt and odors from carpets without using harsh chemicals or foul odors of their own.
It’s also incredibly cost-effective since all you need is an ordinary steam machine with a water reservoir attached that heats water into steam which is then blasted onto your carpets resulting in deep cleaning.
Be sure to test small patches of carpet first before diffusing boiling hot water onto large-scale surfaces.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is another great weapon against stubborn odors when applied directly onto affected areas due to its natural ability to absorb moisture and unpleasant smells rather than mask them with other odors like other chemical solutions often do.
To remove tough odors that have been building up over several months simply sprinkle baking soda across affected areas prior to vacuuming up thirty minutes later – voila!
Baking soda should be sprinkled regularly twice a week or more depending on usage frequency in order for it be truly effective over time.
Experiment With Natural Oils and Essential Oils
Certain natural oils such as lavender, tea tree, rosemary and lemon can help tackle underlying musty odors. Essential oils such as citronella or peppermint prove especially helpful at deterring any pests due to its potent scent.
Dabbing each oil onto rags before spreading across affected carpets will allow for better saturation through fibers without leaving behind oily residues that could get tracked around post-application.
one last thing…
I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below! If you loved this article, I would love it if you gave it 5 stars!
Also, let me know what you think of it by tagging me @_thecultivationofcozy_ on Instagram or at The Cultivation of Cozy on Facebook!
Snap a photo and use the hashtag #thecultivationofcozy to join in the community! I can’t wait to see it!