The carpeting in homes and buildings is consistently gathering dirt and debris from foot traffic and the fibers easily absorb stains and odors. When the carpet becomes too dirty, worn out, or stained, it can affect the appearance of the space.
Regularly vacuuming your carpet removes much of the dirt and debris, but it does not remove embedded debris from deep in the carpet fibers. It is recommended to deep clean your carpeting at least once each year to remove deeply embedded debris as well as odors and stains. Effective deep cleaning also restores the original appearance of the carpet and extends its life.
To deep clean your carpeting, you have the option of calling a professional that provides carpet cleaning services or you can take a DIY route. One way to clean the carpet is to rent a carpet cleaner and treat the carpet yourself. However, many may not feel comfortable using a carpet cleaner and they can leave your carpet wet which can cause mold, mildew, and odors. The other option is to deep clean your carpet using household cleaners and products.
In this guide, we will cover the best ways to clean and restore your carpet without a carpet cleaner.
Prepping Your Carpet for Cleaning Without a Carpet Cleaner
There are a variety of common household products that can be used to clean your carpet, such as baking soda, white vinegar, club soda, and rubbing alcohol. Before cleaning your carpet, you should choose which carpet cleaning agents you want to use:
- Baking soda: Baking soda is an excellent cleaning agent because it is absorbent, and it can neutralize odors. You can remove odors and wet spots by sprinkling baking soda over the carpet and letting it sit anywhere from a couple hours to overnight. After giving the baking soda time to absorb the odors, vacuum it up. You can also mix baking soda with a little water to create a mildly abrasive paste that can scrub away grime and stains without damaging the fibers.
- White vinegar: White vinegar can effectively remove dirt and stains from the carpet and fluff up the fibers. Add equal parts white vinegar and water to a spray bottle and spray the affected areas. Then use a damp rag to blot the vinegar solution.
- Club soda: Club soda is effective for removing stains from deep in the carpet fibers and the carbonation also helps lift the fibers. Simply pour fresh club soda over the affected areas and blot dry to remove the club soda and debris. Once the area is dry, you can vacuum to remove all leftover loosened debris.
- Hydrogen peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide is another effective stain remover. Create a solution of ¾ cup of hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of dish soap, and 2 tablespoons of fabric softener and add this solution to 1 gallon of warm water. Put some of this mixture into a spray bottle and spray the affected areas. Let the solution saturate the carpet and then blot the stain with a clean, damp cloth.
- Rubbing alcohol: Rubbing alcohol is the best option for removing paint, nail polish, and other similar products, but you must be careful using it because it can remove the color from the carpet fibers. First, scrape away as much of the paint or nail polish as possible using a butter knife or similar tool. Then, dab a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol and blot it over the stain. Rinse the spot as soon as the stain is removed.
- Laundry detergent: Laundry detergent is designed to clean fabrics which makes it effective for removing stains from carpeting. Dissolve a small amount of detergent in a cup of water and spray it on the stain or dampen a rag with it to blot the stain. Blot up the detergent and stain using a clean damp rag. This process may need to be repeated multiple times and you can also use dish soap with this same process
Spot Clean the Carpet
Before cleaning the entire carpet, look for and treat the stains first. You should always react to fresh stains by blotting them up immediately with paper towels or an absorbent microfiber cloth. If this does not prevent the stain from setting, or if you have older carpet stains, you should try the following carpet cleaning agents to remove the stain:
- Club soda: Club soda is an excellent option for removing fresh stains as it can dilute and lift the stain. Saturate the area with club soda and blot the area with paper towels. You should try one of the following methods for set stains.
- Vinegar and Dish Soap Solution: You can tackle tough stains with a solution of white vinegar and dish soap. Combine 1-2 cups of white vinegar, 1 cup of warm water, and 2-3 drops of clear dish soap. Remember that vinegar is acidic and could remove the color from your carpet fibers, so test it on a small hidden area first. Dip a sponge or cloth into the solution and blot the stain from the edges to the center. Leave the solution on the stain for a few minutes and blot the stain with a dry towel.
- Baking soda paste: Baking soda paste is abrasive enough to remove tough stains from the carpet. Combine 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water to create the paste. Use a rag or toothbrush to scrub the paste into the carpet fibers and let it sit for a few hours. Vacuum up the paste once it is dry and remove leftover paste by blotting it with a rag and warm water.
Deep Cleaning the Carpet
After treating the spots and stains on your carpet, you can follow these steps to deep clean the entire carpet:
- Vacuum: Start by vacuuming the entire carpet to remove loose dirt and debris.
- Apply baking soda: Baking soda absorbs odors and refreshes the carpet fibers. Sprinkle baking soda over the entire carpet and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming it up.
- Apply powdered carpet cleaner: Powdered carpet cleaners can be used the same way as baking soda. When using these cleaners, make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging. For most powdered cleaners, you will sprinkle them on the carpet and let them sit for about 30 minutes before vacuuming them up.
- Carpet shampoo: You can choose to use carpet shampoo instead of baking soda or powdered carpet cleaners, but it must be diluted. Add a couple of drops of carpet shampoo to a spray bottle of warm water and do the following:
- Lightly spray the carpet but try not to saturate the fibers or this could cause mold and mildew.
- Use a carpet brush to remove caked-in dirt.
- Use a dry towel to blot the carpet and remove the shampoo.
- Spray the carpet with fresh water but once again, avoid saturating the carpet.
- Blot dry the carpet with a dry towel.
- Use a carpet brush to brush the fibers.
Professional Commercial Carpet Cleaning from Stratus
The carpet cleaning tips described above can help you remove stains and odors and deep clean your carpeting with minimal monetary investment. However, these cleaning methods can take up a lot of your time and some of these methods may need to be repeated to be effective. If you are in charge of caring for a commercial space, the carpeted areas may be too big to handle with DIY methods.
Stratus Building Solutions provides commercial carpet cleaning services for all types of offices and commercial buildings throughout Palm Beach County, FL. We use advanced cleaning methods and equipment to remove dirt and stains, improving the appearance of the carpet and extending its life. Our carpet cleaning methods are safe for all types of carpeting found in commercial settings.
You can call us at (561) 469-8795 for more about our professional carpet cleaning services.
