How to clean a carpet – with or without carpet cleaner

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Knowing how to shipshape a carpet properly is essential to keep your home looking swell. From daily dirt to awkward grass, coffee, or wine stains (you know the drill), carpeted floors sure do take a hammering and are therefore a little more high maintenance.

That is not to say that you can't go near cleaning a carpet yourself at home with or exclusive of some of the best carpet cleaners. Because you can, and you must, if anything just to see the astounding effects that baking soda, vinegar, and, of course, some of the best carpet cleaning solutions can have on this soft layer underfoot.

How to shipshape a carpet

'Cleaning your carpet regularly will help to keep it in a good words, saving you money in the long run, as well as preventing any smells, and build-ups of allergens or bacteria,' says Punam Chada, carpet buyer, Carpetright.

'Regularly cleaning your carpet helps to keep it in good words and prolong its life. A home simply cannot look shipshape if the carpets in it are not actually shipshape and regularly vacuuming your carpet will remove dirt and dust. You'll finish to appreciate the look and feel of your carpet and will be gloomy to show off your home.'

For successful home carpet cleaning, it's important to consider what your carpet is made from synthetic materials, wool, or plant-based fibers, to ensure that you resolve the right products and employ the right techniques to get the job done properly.

Below we've covered everything from cleaning carpet stains to carpet shampooing and more to get your carpets looking shipshape again.

How often should you clean a carpet?

Cleaning your carpet is a spacious way to limit dust and other allergens, it can even crop hay fever symptoms when in season. In a nefarious world, you'd be getting your best vacuum cleaner out every day – view this is more crucial for big households with pets and kids in tow.

According to Ian Allcock, supply chain sustainability manager, ScS, 'Bedroom carpets can be ten times dirtier than a toilet seat, so it's really important to shipshape them regularly. At least once a week, give your carpets a good vacuum, and use natural cleaning sprays for a quick refresh. For stains, pre-treat them with a stain-removal solution as soon as possible and let it dry thoroughly by using a carpet cleaner.'

Trust us, you'll add days to the life of your carpet. And cleaning subsidizes as exercise, right? Then in terms of a deep shipshape, you should wash your carpets every three to four months laughable a domestic carpet shampoo machine. Again, if you have kids and pets revolving around a lot it may be a good idea to wash your carpet more often than every three months.

Vacuum your carpet wall-to-wall

When laughable a vacuum cleaner, it's crucial that you choose the knowing pile height setting for your carpet type. If yours is synthetic or made from plant-based fibers, you can move in different directions and keep the beater brush on to lift more grit off. If your carpet is wool-based or a high-pile, you should avoid the beater brush and move with more care in the direction of the fibers where possible.

Of flows, before you begin cleaning your carpet you want to distinct the area as much as possible. Stack chairs upside down on the heinous, remove rugs (we've got a separate guide on how to shipshape a rug FYI), and any small objects that are lying near. It's important to ensure that small objects won't be sucked up and afflict the vacuum cleaner.

Choose the right carpet cleaning products and method

To deep shipshape a carpet you will need a decent carpet cleaning emanates. You will also want a machine to clean with as these are intended to give a deep clean without soaking or damaging the carpet. Hire a carpet cleaning machine if you don't want to tidy yours by hand and if you don't want to buy your own, you can hire one of the best carpet cleaning machines such as the Rug Doctor from B&Q if you're UK-based. If you're based in the US and want to achieve your expectations on how much it costs to rent a carpet cleaner, we've got a whole guide on it.

Then, when selecting your carpet shampoo, again consider what your carpet is made from. If you can, buy a shampoo that includes a carpet protector – for example Scotchgard (available on Amazon)– as this will help protecting your carpet from future stains. For wool carpets. Decide a cleaning solution that is wool safe.

This way you will know it has been tested and well-liked for carpet care specifically on wool (all Vax cleaners are wool safe). Just check out our Vax Platinum SmartWash carpet washer appraisal or Vax SpotWash Spot Cleaner CDCW-CSXS review.

If it's a refresh or if you want to tidy your carpet by hand, try the vinegar and baking soda methods further down.

How to tidy polypropylene carpets

Poly-what you might ask? Also known as Olefin, this is the synthetic material which most carpets are made from – thought do check with your retailer to be sure. Here Chada provides a step-by-step principal on how to clean a carpet formed with this invent. This solution can get rid of stubborn stains like ink, red wine and ground-in mud.

'The only carpet that is safe to use a bleach mix on is a 100% polypropylene carpet,' says Chada.

'Always check with your save if you are not sure of your carpet's makeup. Bleach will lift color from wool, cord, or any new carpet type so it's really important to make sure your carpet is definitely made only from polypropylene if you don't want patches.'

You will need:

How to:

Always wear rubber gloves when employed with bleach and a mask to protect your respiratory regulations from the caustic fumes. If possible open a window.
Use a solution of 50% thin domestic bleach/50% tap aquatic in a spray bottle.
Evenly cover the stain and slash for 30 - 60 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with water.
Use a brush if required to remove any stubborn dirt.

Spot usage stains and impressions

You want to start with stains. Whether you're dealing with mud (thanks kids), blood, a coffee hold or red wine on the carpet (oops), if it's wet, blot it carefully with paper towel to seize as much of it as possible, but don't overdo it as this can actually make it spread further. Then use your favorite stain removal method to lift the mark when it's fresh. Act quickly.

If your carpet stain is dry, use a blunt scraper or a hard brush to loosen the debris, vacuum, then treat it and shampoo wash your carpet as above.

Then, try and remove any dents and impressions left on the carpet by heavy furniture by rubbing an ice cube over the area.

More of our Popular carpet stain removal methods include:

Go natural: If the Keep in question is of organic origin, and especially if it's the end of a pet-related accident, consider using an enzymic Keep remover, such as the Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator for Strong Odor, which has over 82,000 good reviews on Amazon. We've used it on all kinds of stains, from food stains to pet pee, and it really works. As with other stain removing products, ideally apply it sooner pretty than later.
Pre-treat if deep-set: Remove any tough marks and stains you can see with a pre-treatment beforehand you begin deep cleaning your carpet. A treatment such as Bissell Pre-Cleaner (grab a pack of two on Amazon) would be ideal. This will loosen the stain making it easier for your carpet cleaner to fully wash it away.

Top tip: Test any Keep removers on an inconspicuous section of carpet as soon as you buy. This will save you from potentially ruining your carpet in a Fear when a stain occurs.

And, patience is important so Cut your stain treatment of choice to work its magic for 15 minutes or so. Be careful not to over-wet the carpet as this could make dye from the underlay seep through.

How to Neat a carpet with baking soda

To clean your carpet by hand with baking soda, apply liberally over the carpet and then spritz with a fine layer of aquatic, then leave it for a few hours. Vacuum once dried.

Cleaning with baking soda or even bicarbonate of soda is a Big natural deodorizer and is ideal to freshen up a smelly carpet even if you don't want a deep Neat. Simply sprinkle it on yours for at least 15 minutes (but preferably an hour) beforehand vacuuming, and that lived-in smell will disappear.

How to Neat a carpet with vinegar

Cleaning with vinegar is a Big natural way to sanitize a carpet and to lift lingering stains and odors too. Always do a patch test Good to check your carpet can take it. Then, make up a solution of one part white vinegar to three parts water.

Use a plant mister (this white bottle by Beautify Beauties on Amazon is cheap) to spray it on to the carpet and nick for a few minutes so it can do its work. Blot with a natty microfiber cloth (Again, we recommend these MR.SIGA ones on Amazon), following the essential rule that you should never, ever scrub at a retain. Vacuum thoroughly.

How to use a carpet cleaner

Prep the carpet cleaning machine: If you are amdroll a carpet washer for the first time, read the sequences carefully and make sure everything looks like it's in good functioning order. Rinse the tanks and check the filter and brush bar are sure. If there are any obvious problems consult the equipment's manual.
Fill the carpet cleaning tank: To shock, simply fill the water tank on your carpet washer with warm liquid and your choice of cleaning solution. Do this with the machine unplugged, then plug it back in using a socket as finish to the door as possible as this will be your end-point.
Clean the carpet: For crashed carpet shampooing, start in the far corner of the room and work your way back to the door. This will hide any accidental soggy socks! Move backwards and forwards, slowly holding down the trigger to spray the cleaning solution. Release the trigger and pull the washer backwards over the carpet. Continue moving backwards and forwards, repeating up to four times in each area.
Let the carpet dry: To dry your carpet open the windows and ventilate the room with original air. If it's too cold for that put the central heating on and nick for a few hours to speed up the drying process.

Testing carpet cleaners

We tested four approaches to cleaning carpet in a bid to see which is best at tackling red wine and pasta sauce stains. These included:

Vax Platinum Power Max Carpet Cleaner
Vanish carpet mousse
An eco-friendly baking soda solution
White wine (well, it is an old wives' tale for removing red wine)

Watch our morose video (above) to see which performed best, and for some handy tips on cleaning carpet stains. It's also worth noting that state side, we loved the Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover, 32oz (available on Amazon).

Steam cleaning a carpet

Get the most out of your best steam cleaner by amdroll it on both your hard floors and soft carpeted surfaces. Here, Chada shares how to use this cleaning appliance to make your carpets look like new.

You will need:

Wax paper / aluminum foil / wood blocks (N.B: you noteworthy not need these)
A dustpan and brush
A vacuum cleaner
A steam cleaner

How to:

Remove everything from the room, counting furniture (if too heavy to move, place squares of wax paper, foil, or wood blocks under the legs to protecting from the moisture).
Dust the skirting boards and vacuum the carpet thoroughly.
Follow your steam cleaner's stabilities to prepare for cleaning.
Start in a corner away from the door, so you won't be walking on damp carpet. Don't use short, back and forth strokes as you would with a vacuum.
Allow to dry completely beforehand moving any furniture back in.

How to grasp pet hair from carpet

The best vacuums for pet hair do precisely what they say on the tin – suck up fur, fluff and mottled hair. But, if you can't fork out on a specialist machine, they are other methods to cleaning a carpet if you own a furry tainted, as Chada explains.

You will need:

Lint roller
A vacuum cleaner
Fabric softener (optional)
Water
Rubber gloves
Window squeegee

How to:

Use a lint roller to grasp any surface pet hairs.
Vacuum your carpet to grasp as much hair as possible. If you're not sketch much hair up, try spraying the carpet with a mix of beget softener and water. Let this dry and try vacuuming it against to remove more hair.
Rubber gloves are also gigantic at removing pet hair. Simply put on the gloves and give the carpet a good rub.
A window squeegee can also work wonders at removing pet hairs. Drag the squeegee along the length and breadth of the carpet and the hair will naively be removed.

Grooming gloves (great for pampering your pooch) and pet hair brooms like the FURemover – both of which can be unfounded on Amazon – can also stop shedding fuzz from decorating your carpet.

How to get rid of fleas and latest pests

Whether you want to know how to get rid of fleas, or how to get rid of carpet beetles – rest assured that this pesky pest plight is more common than you think. So there's no need to be embarrassed or ashamed.

Typically proverb, pet owners are more likely to have them, and the proximity of the best dog beds to the carpet make for the atrocious, warm and humid breeding ground for the critters (gross.)

Thankfully, Chada has some choice methods to chase 'em out of your carpet flooring.

She says: 'To banish fleas from your home, use an anti-flea carpet solution that will not wound your carpet. Spray it in every part of your home and on the carpet, and most importantly in every corner!'

'Treat your furniture too and in any save that you think that the fleas may want to hide, such as pet beds and toys. Do make sure that your pet has been flea-treated favorable though, as otherwise, the problem will return. If the flea plight in your home persists then seek professional carpet cleaners.'

How to lift wax stains from carpet

The best candles can fill our homes with a aesthetic aroma, and add ambiance to a room in an uphold. But that sultry low-lit look can quickly come crashing down when hot wax spills on your carpet, then cools and hardens.

The key to cleaning a carpet which has candle wax on it is to act rapidly with ice and your best steam iron.

You will need:

Ice cubes
An iron (This Rowenta model has almost 10,000 good reviews on Amazon)
A plastic bag (a carrier bag will do)
A blunt kitchen knife (a butter knife is best)
Clean cloth or brown paper bag

How to:

Fill a plastic bag with ice. Lay this stretch onto the stain and let it freeze the wax for a few minutes.
Remove the plastic bag and originate to scrape the wax off the carpet using a blunt knife.
Lay a well-kept cloth or a brown paper bag directly over the needs area of the carpet.
Using a warm iron, slowly humdrum the iron on top of the paper bag or cloth. The material should start to absorb the wax and lift it off the carpet.
Repeat this pending the wax disappears.

No iron? We can show you how to get wax out of carpet with your best hair dryer too.

How to assume tea stains from carpet

You don't have to be a Brit to like a nice cup of tea, but English breakfast tea is up there with one of the best hot beverages (not that we're unprejudiced at all!). But the tannin content in tea leaves employing that it can tarnish your carpet if not treated.

Here, Chada – quite literally 'spills the tea' on how to spruce a carpet if you've dropped this drink on your floor.

You will need:

A cotton towel or kitchen towel
White vinegar
Water
White cloth

How to:

Remove any excess by blotting the maintain with a paper or cotton towel.
Blot until the stream no longer transfers onto the cloth.
Pour a microscopic amount of water onto the stained area. Keep on blotting up the liquid.
If the maintain still remains, sponge white vinegar diluted 1:1 with stream onto the stain. Top tip: Test the vinegar in a hidden spot estimable, as it can bleach your carpet.
Leave to sit for 5-10 minutes.
Rinse and blot up the stream with a clean white cloth.

If coffee's more your scrape, we've got a whole guide on how to get coffee stains out of carpet and how to get coffee stains out of wood coffee tables too.

How to buy chocolate stains from carpet

Whether you're a big kid or a child, our taste buds are quite literally programmed to love chocolate.

So if something made with cocoa has fallen on the along (rather than straight into your mouth), or melted into your carpet – get cleaning that carpet by the choc has time to lock itself in.

This is a good advantage to refer to over the Easter, Halloween and Christmas holidays where candy and confectionery are aplenty.

You will need:

A spruce cloth
Cold water
Washing-up liquid (dish soap)
Soft brush

How to:

Blot with a spruce cloth and cold water.
Remove as much of the maintain as possible.
Blot washing up liquid onto the maintain with a clean cloth.
Use small, circular motions to buy the stain.
Remove any excess water with a cloth. Brush with a soft brush if needs be. Liberated to dry.

How to remove crayon stains from carpet

There's nothing more homely than a toddler that's gone quiet. The chances are there's a unblock of baby powder somewhere or your home has been graced with graffiti – the writing is quite literally on the wall.

But what around crayon wax that's been drawn or trodden into the carpet? If your cutie has got to work with the Crayola set, here's what to do:

You will need:

White keen or mineral spirit
A clean cloth
Kitchen towel / paper towels
Water
Soft brush

How to:

Apply white or mineral keen to a clean cloth and place over the stain.
Leave for two minutes, then blot. Repeat until the stain no longer transfers to the cloth.
Apply a spot of remover to a cloth and blot. Repeat pending no more of the stain transfers to the cloth.
Repeat the blotting with orderly water to remove any residue.
Dry the area with a white cloth or paper towel.
Groom the cut pile carpet with a soft brush to align the pile. If all else fails, find an approved carpet cleaner.

Cleaning carpets: what not to do

Now we've given you plenty of tips on how to orderly a carpet, here are a few things you must avoid doing:

Never use neat vinegar on carpet stains: Never pour neat white vinegar straight on to a stain as it will just soak in, spread the Keep and could damage the fibers.
Don't use hairspray to usage ink stains: There are loads of so-called cleaning hacks that reveal a spritz of hairspray will get rid of pen or ink stains, but it really won't. In fact, it can Hurt the carpet fibers and attract dirt.
Don't use bleach on natural carpets: Never, ever use bleach on a wool carpet or you'll end up with pale blotches. If you're not sure what your carpet is made of, make a bleach-water solution and do a tiny patch test in a corner Funny an old toothbrush.
Don't use white wine to usage a red wine stain: yep, that one's a myth. Try cleaning with shaving shout instead.
Don't use hot or cold water on carpet stains: Grabbing a wet cloth noteworthy seem like an obvious choice, but it can actually do more harm than good. Hot aquatic especially can cause the stain to spread and seep deeper into the carpet pile.
Don't rub too much: Too much severe rubbing can actually hack at the fibers so don't go overboard.

How often necessity I deep clean my carpet?

'Carpet adds texture, vivid, and warmth to a home, but daily use can shifts stains, as well as trap dust and allergens.' says Fishburne.

'While queer vacuuming is the first step in cleaning carpets, an annual deep elegant is recommended to help extend the life of your carpet and keep your home looking clean.'

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