Your pristine carpet can start to look dirty and grimy due to constant use and roughhousing by your kids and pets. To prevent that and ensure your carpet looks its best, you need to deep clean it from time to time.
To help you out, our experts have listed the perfect way to deep clean your carpet at home in this blog. Check it out and give your carpet a cleaning that leaves it looking spotless for a long time.
Steps to Deep Clean Your Carpet at Home
1. Gather Your Supplies & Tools
Here are the things you’ll need to deep-clean your carpets.
- Vacuum cleaner
- Soft-bristle brush
- White Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Liquid dish soap
- Spray Bottle
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Club Soda
2. Scrub & Vacuum Thoroughly
Start by scrubbing your carpet with a soft-bristled brush to dislodge the accumulated dirt, dust, and grime. Do so gently to prevent damage to the delicate carpet fibers.
Then, pick up the vacuum cleaner and start vacuuming your carpet from one end to another. Move slowly and spend more time in high-traffic areas to remove maximum dirt and grime.
Tip: Vacuum in multiple directions when you are deep cleaning, as that will give extra attention to the dirty areas.
3. Spot Treat the Stains
The next step is to spot-treat the heavily stained areas of your carpet, depending on the type of stains.
→ Common Spills
Blot with paper towels or a clean microfiber cloth as soon as possible and remove the excess liquid. Then, spray a cleaning solution of liquid dish soap and water on the stained area. Wait for a while, and then rinse with cold water.
→ Coffee Stains
For dry coffee stains, prepare a cleaning solution of 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Then, apply the solution and let it set. After a while, rinse the area with cold water and dry. Repeat till you remove the stain.
→ Butter/ Oil Stains
To remove fat-based stains from your carpet, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda on them. Let it sit for a few hours, and then vacuum it up. Dip a cloth in rubbing alcohol and dab the stain with it until it’s gone.
→ Pet Urine
Pet urine stains are among the most stubborn ones. To deal with them, make a solution of white vinegar, baking soda, and warm water. Spray it on the spot and wait for a few minutes. Sprinkle cold water on the spot and blot dry.
4. Prepare the Cleaning Solution
After removing the stains from your carpet, you need to clean the entire thing with a single cleaning solution. To prepare it, mix 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap and white vinegar each into 2 cups of warm water. Increase the ratio as per the size of your carpet.
One important carpet cleaning tip we give to all homeowners is to try out the solution on a small area of your carpet before using it on the entire thing to avoid any side effects.
5. Clean the Carpet
Divide your carpet into sections and spray the solution on each section. Wait for a few minutes, then gently rub the areas with a clean microfiber cloth while spraying it with cold water. Cover the entire carpeted area like this.
6. Let Air Dry
Let your carpet air dry and ensure it dries thoroughly by opening the windows and turning on the fans. While deep cleaning your carpet, avoid using excess solution or water on your carpet, as that can lead to moisture seeping under the carpet and causing mold growth.
7. Refresh & Deodorize
The final step in the deep cleaning process is to remove any musty odors from your carpet and refresh it. To do that, sprinkle some baking soda all over your carpet and let it stay there for 4-6 hours or overnight. Vacuum it up in the morning for fresher-smelling carpets.
Deep cleaning your carpet at home is simple. All you need are a few tools and some homemade supplies. Once you have them, follow the instructions in this blog step-by-step to give your carpet a cleaning that will last longer.