How to Clean Carpet

You’ve stayed on top of vacuuming, but the time has come to step it up and find the best carpet cleaner to regain that like-new look. One of the best solutions for how to clean carpet is to have it professionally cleaned once or twice a year. Hire a reputable professional carpet cleaner to do this time-intensive and tedious job. Also, remember that neglecting to have your carpets regularly cleaned by a certified pro may void any warranty. When you hire professionals, your options are steam carpet cleaning and dry extraction carpet cleaning. Either method (when handled by a qualified carpet cleaning professional) will do wonders for dirty carpets. Professionals have more powerful carpet cleaning equipment than you’re likely to buy or rent, and they also typically have far more experience with removing carpet stains. Prices may vary widely for essentially the same service, so shop carefully.

How to Clean Carpet for Floors That Look Like New

Don’t let stains and daily traffic take their toll. Keep your carpet looking beautiful with these cleaning techniques.

Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content.

Carpets warm a home by adding color, pattern, and texture. However, the method for how to clean carpet requires a different cleaning process than an area rug or hardwood floors. Frequent vacuuming is the first line of defense against dirt and grit that damages carpet fibers. Still, carpets also need regular cleaning to keep them looking their best. Plan to deep-clean your carpet every 12 to 18 months (or more often in high-traffic areas). If you have light-colored carpets or kids or pets, consider deep-cleaning them two or three times a year.

Refer to the carpet manufacturer’s guidelines before cleaning the carpet. Then use our instructions below for how to clean carpets safely and effectively. We’ll show you how to clean carpets using water extraction, dry extraction, rental carpet cleaners, and more.

Before Getting Started: Test Carpet for Colorfastness

Before you begin cleaning carpets, the first step is to test colorfastness. Colorfast carpet won’t bleed, fade, or change when cleaning or removing stains. The colorfastness will help you choose the best carpet cleaning method, products, or machines. Follow these steps to pretest your carpet to determine if it’s colorfast.

1. Locate a carpet scrap or an inconspicuous spot on the floor, such as the carpet inside a closet. Vacuum the carpet.
2. Dampen a cloth with the carpet cleaner or carpet stain remover you want to use.
3. Lay the cloth on the carpet for an hour, then blot the damp area with a dry white cloth.
4. If the cloth is stained with carpet dyes, test other carpet cleaning products until you find one that does not make the carpet sample bleed.

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

How to Clean Carpet

How to Clean Carpet Using the Water Extraction Method

• Vacuum
• Carpet cleaning machine
• Fans (optional)

Materials

How to Clean Carpet

How to Clean Carpet Using the Water Extraction Method

• Carpet cleaning solution
• Vinegar (optional)
• Water

Instructions

How to Clean Carpet

Protecting your furniture, carpet padding, and subfloor when cleaning carpets is essential. Grab a partner to help you remove furniture from the room where the carpet is being cleaned.

Vacuum Carpet

Carpet is similar to an air filter, collecting our home’s dirt and dust. This residue acts like fine sandpaper, wearing down carpet fibers over time, says Derek Christian, owner of My Maid Service and an IICRC-certified carpet-cleaning technician. Christian suggests skipping a weekly whole-home vacuum. Instead, vacuum high-traffic areas once a week or more. “By just quickly vacuuming the high-soil areas in the entries and toward the front of your home, you can add years to the life of your carpet,” Christian says. While vacuuming, take your time and use overlapping strokes. “We train our people to count slowly to three during each forward and backward stroke to make sure they give the vacuum time to do its work,” Christian says. Before you start with a carpet cleaner, vacuum carpets well. A good vacuuming will pick up dust, dirt, and particles so the carpet steamer can access the deep-down debris.

Treat Carpet Stains

Take care of stains as soon as they happen, if possible. Most carpets today are made to resist liquid penetration for a time, so if you simply blot (don’t rub!) it dry with a clean cloth right away, the stain might not have a chance to set. Treat any set-in stains or heavily soiled areas with the appropriate carpet stain removal technique. Many carpet stain removers and treatments can be found in your kitchen or other things you already have on hand.

How to Clean Carpet Using the Water Extraction Method

Most home carpet cleaning systems are water extraction units, also known as steam cleaners. They work to wash carpets by injecting a solution into the carpet pile, then pulling the dirty solution back into the machine. To avoid dragging a hose around the house, opt for a model that doesn’t require a clean-water hookup. Also, choose the most powerful carpet cleaning machine you can afford to ease the burden of water extraction.

Vacuum Carpet

Clean with Carpet Cleaning Machine

Mix the carpet cleaning solution as recommended. Start opposite the doorway so you don’t have to walk over your freshly cleaned carpet. Be sure not to get the carpet too wet, and extract as much water as possible. (This can take some time, so work patiently and thoroughly.) You can also use vinegar after cleaning to help remove any residue left behind by the cleaning process. Rinse the carpet with 1/2 cup vinegar per gallon of water, going slowly and extracting all the moisture thoroughly.

Dry Carpet

Ventilate the area to dry the carpet or use fans to speed dry time.

Caution

Don’t get carpets overly wet when using a steam cleaner. Overwetting can damage the carpet backing and underlay, causing shrinkage, discoloration, and odor.

How to Clean Carpet Using the Dry Extraction Method

Most home carpet cleaning systems are water extraction units, also known as steam cleaners. They work to wash carpets by injecting a solution into the carpet pile, then pulling the dirty solution back into the machine. To avoid dragging a hose around the house, opt for a model that doesn’t require a clean-water hookup. Also, choose the most powerful carpet cleaning machine you can afford to ease the burden of water extraction.

How to Choose a Vacuum for Carpets

“Price and beauty are not good indicators of performance when it comes to vacuums. Pick based on functions rather than price tag,” says Moxie Girl Household Assistants founder Amanda Thomas. Have shedding pets, for example? Choose a vacuum with a hose and multiple attachments. Stairs? Go light, or find one with a removable stair-cleaning attachment. “I bought my home vacuum five years ago for less than $40. It does what we need it to, so there was no need to pay hundreds,” Thomas says. In addition, Thomas says she often sees vacuums that have stopped working due to a lack of care. So empty the canister or bag frequently, check hoses for clogs, and change the filter when it turns gray. “A decent vacuum should last you at least 5-10 years, as long as you maintain it correctly,” she says. “Protect your investment, no matter how small!”

Hiring a Carpet Cleaning Professional

You’ve stayed on top of vacuuming, but the time has come to step it up and find the best carpet cleaner to regain that like-new look. One of the best solutions for how to clean carpet is to have it professionally cleaned once or twice a year. Hire a reputable professional carpet cleaner to do this time-intensive and tedious job. Also, remember that neglecting to have your carpets regularly cleaned by a certified pro may void any warranty. When you hire professionals, your options are steam carpet cleaning and dry extraction carpet cleaning. Either method (when handled by a qualified carpet cleaning professional) will do wonders for dirty carpets. Professionals have more powerful carpet cleaning equipment than you’re likely to buy or rent, and they also typically have far more experience with removing carpet stains. Prices may vary widely for essentially the same service, so shop carefully.

Carpet Cleaning Machines: Owning vs. Renting

While a once- or twice-a-year professional cleaning is recommended, you occasionally might need a DIY carpet cleaning. Rental machines are available at big-box retailers and home stores. In addition, you’ll find many carpet steam cleaners to purchase. If you take the do-it-yourself approach to carpet cleaning, read the steamer’s manual carefully and follow all instructions for using the machine. Sometimes carpet cleaning products can leave dirt-attracting residue, making carpets look even dirtier. This is why following all instructions for mixing the cleaning solution, rinsing, and drying is essential. You may have light-colored carpets and a house full of kids or pets. In that case, you might want to invest in a professional-style carpet cleaning machine designed for home use. Home carpet cleaners can save you money over the long haul compared to hiring professional carpet cleaners several times a year. Keep in mind that your unit might not have the carpet cleaning power that professional models do. Consider renting a professional-quality steam cleaner for more power. However, rentals can quickly add up with rental fees and the cost of carpet cleaning solutions (shampoo, defoamer, spot removers, odor removers, and more). Even so, renting might be a better value if your carpets don’t easily show dirt, your kids are grown, or you don’t own four-legged pets.

How to Clean Carpet Odors

In addition to stains, look to your pantry to combat carpet odors. Lightly shake baking soda onto carpets. Let the baking soda sit on the carpet for 15 minutes, and vacuum to remove the baking soda and the odors. Your carpets will stay in tip-top shape by keeping up on your vacuuming, knowing how to remove stains, and how to clean carpet when it needs it.

How to Clean Carpet

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry’s most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking.

• Working Time: 20 mins – 1 hr
• Total Time: 20 mins – 8 hrs, 20 mins

• Skill Level: Beginner
• Estimated Cost: $0-$10

It’s essential to keep carpets cleaned since they take so much abuse from shoes, spills, and pets. Frequent vacuuming, spot cleaning, and deeper cleaning can extend the life of any type of carpet. Allowing dust and soil particles to remain on carpet fibers causes them to look dull and retain odors, and it eventually wears out the carpet backing and fibers. Deep cleaning a carpet removes heavier soil, restores the buoyancy of the fibers, and brightens colors.

How Often to Clean Carpet

Whether you have wall-to-wall carpeting or area rugs, regular vacuuming at least once per week is a must—more frequently if you have pets or kids. Spills and stains should be treated as quickly as possible. Consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning company or doing a deeper clean yourself at least twice a year.

Here are steps to take for routine and deep cleaning your carpet and how to clean carpets with difficult stains.

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What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

• Vacuum
• Spray bottle
• Microfiber cloth
• Bucket
• Oscillating fan
• Scrub brush with stiff nylon bristles
• Old towels or rags
• Clothes steamer
• Steam mop

Materials

• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Table salt

Instructions

How to Do a Routine Carpet Cleaning

Get Rid of Dust and Dirt

Using a vacuum with strong suction—and using it often—is the best way to clean carpet. However, if you don’t have a vacuum, there are other ways to clean carpet, like an old-fashioned broom, carpet rake, or carpet sweeper. A few tips for your routine cleaning:

• For the most thorough vacuum job, take the time to move furniture and any other items from the carpet.
• Set the vacuum to the proper height for your type of carpet to get the strongest suction.
• Vacuum slowly and go over high-traffic areas several times for the best results.
• Use a lint roller for quick clean-up of crumbs.
• Run a rubber-edged squeegee over the carpet to collect pet hair.
• Freshen and brighten carpet with a liberal sprinkling of baking soda every month. Let it sit for an hour or more to absorb oily stains and odors and then vacuum it away.

Spot-Clean Stains

The best time to treat a carpet stain is as quickly as possible. For liquid spills, immediately blot away the moisture with paper towels or a white cloth. Never use a cloth or napkin that might not be colorfast. For more solid mud stains or dropped food, use the edge of a credit card or a dull knife to lift away the solids. NEVER rub a stain with solids, because it will push it deeper into the fibers. After the initial clean-up, follow the recommendations on a stain removal chart to remove specific types of stain. Here’s a quick reference list of the five most frequent and difficult to remove carpet stains:

1. Pet accidents
2. Red wine
3. Coffee spills
4. Ink stains
5. Nail polish

Ways to Deep Clean Carpet

For do-it-yourselfers, especially those who have small children or pets that soil carpets frequently, there are home carpet cleaners like the Tineco Carpet One Smart Carpet Cleaner that work well to remove soil and stains using liquid carpet shampoo. Or, you can rent a heavy-duty steam cleaner or hire a professional carpet cleaning service. Using a professional cleaning service is easy but can be costly if your carpet needs frequent cleaning.

With some elbow grease, you can also deep clean area carpets and even wall-to-wall carpeting with some simple products and tools you probably have in your pantry.

Clean With Distilled White Vinegar

Vacuum and Treat Visible Stains

Always begin any cleaning process by spot cleaning stains and then vacuuming the carpet to remove loose soil, dust, dirt, and debris. If you skip this step, you may just be pushing soil around or driving it deeper into the fibers. Removing some stains like oil, tar, and pet accidents will require special treatment. Consult a stain removal chart for the proper cleaners to remove those stains.

Mix a Vinegar and Water Solution

In a spray bottle, mix one part of distilled white vinegar and three parts of cold water. You will need to refill the bottle several times if cleaning a wall-to-wall carpet.

Warning

Before beginning the deep-cleaning process, spray the vinegar solution on the carpet in a hidden location to test the colorfastness of the carpet. Do not use the solution if you see any bleeding or change of color.

Apply the Solution, Wait, and Blot

Working in a small 3-feet x 3-feet area, spray the vinegar solution onto the carpet until it’s very damp. Do not saturate. Follow a grid so you’ll know where you have cleaned. If you are cleaning an area rug, take extra precautions to protect the floor beneath the rug from moisture damage. Allow the solution to remain on the carpet for five minutes to begin breaking down the soil. Use a microfiber cloth to blot away the solution and the soil. Have a bucket of clean water ready to rinse the microfiber cloth. Change the water frequently as it becomes soiled.

Allow the Carpet to Air-Dry

Open doors and windows to increase the airflow in the room or add oscillating fans to speed drying. Do not allow traffic on the carpet until it is fully dry. If you must use the room while the carpet is damp, place plastic sheeting or tarps on the traffic pathways to prevent staining.

Clean With Baking Soda and Salt

Vacuum and Pretreat Stains

Vacuum or sweep the carpet to remove loose soil and then follow the recommendations on a stain removal chart to remove visible stains.

Mix Baking Soda and Salt

In a small bowl or bucket, mix a one-to-one mixture of baking soda and salt. The salt can be table salt or Kosher salt. Fill a spray bottle with cold water.

Sprinkle, Spritz, and Scrub

Liberally sprinkle the carpet with the baking soda and salt mixture. You may find it easier to work in a grid pattern starting in a corner and working toward an exit. After sprinkling, spritz the area with a spray bottle filled with plain water. The carpet should be very damp, but not sopping wet. Use a scrub brush to work the baking soda deeper into the carpet fibers. Go in one direction and then at a 90-degree angle to help lift the soil.

Wipe, Dry, and Vacuum

After scrubbing, use old towels or rags to wipe away the loosened soil. It is fine to leave a bit of baking soda in the fibers. Allow the carpet to air-dry completely. Use a vacuum to remove any remaining baking soda left in the fibers. The carpet should smell fresher and look brighter.

Clean With Steam

If you have a clothes steamer or steam mop that is usually used on hard-surface floors, they can be used to deep clean carpet, as well.

Vacuum and Pretreat Stains

Vacuum the carpet to remove loose soil and pretreat stained areas.

Sprinkle With Baking Soda and Salt and Steam

Follow the same steps for mixing baking soda and salt. Sprinkle the carpet with the mixture and then use steam, instead of cold water, to dampen the mixture. If you are using a clothes steamer, hold the steamer head about six to twelve inches from the carpet. Allow the steam to completely dampen the carpet. Use a scrub brush to work the damp mixture into the fibers. If you are using a steam mop, use the microfiber mop head or a carpet attachment to go over the baking soda mixture on the carpet. Again, use the scrub brush to clean the area.

Blot, Dry, and Vacuum

Use old towels or microfiber cloths to absorb the loosened soil. Allow the carpet to dry completely and vacuum to remove any residue remaining in the carpet.

Tips to Keep Carpet Clean Longer

• Place doormats outside and inside all entrance doors to trap soil.
• Remove shoes at the door to prevent tracking in dirt.
• Vacuum several times per week.
• Treat stains immediately.
• Change or clean HVAC filters to trap dust particles circulating in the air before they land on the carpet.
• Keep your vacuum well-maintained and clean so it will function properly.
• If you have pets, brush and bathe them frequently to protect carpets.