Carpet Cleaning: Complete Guide (2024)

Carpets face the brunt of pet stains, accidental liquid spills, and household stains, making them a favorite place for embedded dirt and bacteria. So, you must regularly clean your carpets to create a hygienic, clean and comfortable interior environment.

Some of the best methods for cleaning carpets are vacuuming, using carpet shampoo, or a steam cleaner.

Keep up with us for a complete breakdown of how you can clean different types of carpets and stains using various cleaning methods.

Table Of Contents

😎How To Clean Different Types Of Carpets [Cheatsheet]
🤯How To Clean Carpet Stains [The Smart Way!]
😉7 Carpet Cleaning Tips Pros Don’t Want To Reveal!
👨‍🏫Carpet Cleaning FAQs

😎How To Clean Different Types Of Carpets [Cheatsheet]

Here’s the deal:

There are various kinds of carpets, each of which requires a particular approach to cleaning.

See this table to get an overview of the types of carpets available and how you can clean them:-

Carpet Type	How to clean	How difficult to clean	Time needed (approx)	Cost estimates
Berber Carpet	Vacuum cleaning or dabbing stains with carpet cleaning solution	Moderate	15-20 mins	$10-$30
Woolen carpet	Vacuum carpets or spot cleaning treatment	Easy	10-15 mins	$10-$20
Synthetic carpet [Nylon, olefin, polyester, triexta]	Vacuum or steam cleaner	Moderate	15-20 mins	$10-$80
Natural fiber [sisal, jute]	Vacuum cleaning or gentle dabbing with carpet cleaner.	Easy	10-20 mins	$10-$50
High pile/plush carpet	Steam clean or dry bath technique	Moderate	20-30 mins	$20- $50

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🟤Berber Carpet

Berber carpets have a unique loop arrangement. They are known for getting fewer carpet stains but are also challenging to clean. You should vacuum them at least once or twice weekly and attempt a deeper clean every three months.

To clean up a stain on a Berber carpet:

Purchase a carpet cleaner or prepare your own DIY solution with vinegar and water.
Spread the solution on the stain through a spray bottle or a clean, white towel soaked in the solution.
Then start dabbing the paint with a fresh, dry cloth.

Pro Tip: Never scrub a Berber carpet, as they can snag or develop fuzzy spots if it is scrubbed.

Also Read: Best Vacuum Cleaner For Berber Carpet

🦙Woolen Carpets

Wool is the most well-known natural fiber used in carpeting. These are considered luxury carpet fibers. Wool carpets require the least amount of maintenance and keep their best appearance.

You can easily clean most of the fresh stains on these carpets with warm water and an authorized spot cleaning spray bottle. However, remember to keep bleach, ammonia, and other harsh cleaning supplies far away from it.

Pro Tip For Cleaning Lovers: Spot cleaning stains with bleach risk harming the wool carpet’s fibers and leaving a patch.

Also Read: Best Vacuum For Couches

🧵Synthetic carpet [Nylon, olefin, polyester, triexta]

Polyester, nylon, triexta, and olefin are a few chemical substances used in manufacturing synthetic carpets. Compared to natural fibers, synthetic fibers are typically significantly more stain-resistant. They are simple to clean using conventional spot removal agents.

Nylon makes the best carpet in terms of stain resistance as they are the most environmentally friendly, tough, and long-lasting among synthetic carpets. The lifespan of a carpet made of medium- to high-quality nylon is 12 to 15 years.
The stain resistance of polyester carpets has been validated. A steam carpet cleaning machine is best to maintain your polyester carpet. Also, using carpet stain protectors on your wool and nylon carpets can be very helpful. This protector spray application penetrates your whole carpet to shield it from ugly stains.
The most recent fiber used in carpeting is called triexta. Triexta is much softer than both polyester and nylon and inherently exceptionally stain-resistant. Triexta carpets can survive brief periods of extremely high heat, making steam cleaning the best way to get clean carpets.
For olefin carpets, thoroughly rinse it after cleaning to prevent soiled stains. Except for oil-based stains, polypropylene (an olefin) resists fading from sunshine and has excellent stain resistance.

Also Read: Why Your Tineco Vacuum Light Flashing

🌿Natural fiber [sisal, jute]

These carpets are considerably more delicate and will not tolerate stains.

Sisal: This carpet has a natural fiber manufactured from agave leaves. It is renowned for its toughness and adaptability. Try dabbing spilled liquid with a dry paper towel in case of a liquid spill.
Jute: Despite being incredibly soft, jute is a strong material for area rugs. Depending on foot traffic, You must only vacuum jute carpets once or twice a week. You may use diluted laundry soap or a mixture of 50/50 water, white vinegar, and a clean, moist towel to remove stubborn stains on jute carpets.

Also Read:

🧸High pile/plush carpet

Plush carpet is designed for strong foot traffic and comfort, making living rooms and bedrooms the ideal places for it. However, their fibers have a larger surface area, which makes them more prone to attracting dirt, oils, and residues and making them more challenging to clean.

To clean the plush carpet, use steam cleaners or the dry bath technique (sprinkle a dry rug shampoo on the surface, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then vacuum it up).

💡Here’s a fun fact:

Although rugs and carpets are ornate fabrics typically constructed of a thick fiber and are now commonly used as floor coverings, they are not synonyms.

An area rug is a vast area covering made of woven materials that do not completely cover the floor. Unlike carpets, rugs are frequently used as partial floor coverings. They are cheaper to replace as rugs aren’t attached to the base.

A carpet is a thickly woven wall-to-wall covering the entire floor. You can’t remove it without a professional, making its replacement expensive.

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🤯How To Clean Carpet Stains [The Smart Way!]

Common Stains	Things you need	Steps needed to remove	Time needed (approx.)
Beverage stains (coffee spills)	carpet cleaning solution, towel, and water	Spray the solution on the stain, wait, and then wipe with a clean towel.	10-20 min.
Oil spills	Clean towel and detergent.	Dab towel soaked with a detergent solution on stain	15-20 min.
Pet Stains (poop or urine)	Clean towel, dishwashing liquid, or carpet cleaner.	Spray the solution on the stain, wait and rinse with water	20-30 min.
Paint stains	Towel, dish wash soap, and scrubber	Sprinkle solution on the stain and scrub gently	15-30 min
Ketchup stains	Dishwashing soap and sponge	Sprinkle the solution on the stain and rub with the sponge	15-30 min.

Also Read: How To Remove Ash Stains From Carpet

☕Beverage spill

You are never too old not to spill coffee on your mat. So here’s how you can clean your beverage mess:

Spray the stain with white vinegar solution i.e. water-vinegar mixture or carpet cleaning solution. If necessary, you can also use a detergent without bleach.
After letting it sit for a while, wipe it up and sprinkle baking soda over the affected region.
After letting the damaged area soak in the mixture for five to ten minutes, you can vacuum it up or use a sponge to clean it.

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👨‍🍳Oil Spills

You were carrying cooking oil, and bam…you spilled it on the carpet. Here’s how to remove it:

Dab only a small amount of mild dish detergent onto a cloth and apply it to the stain.
Alternatively, you can put a thick layer of baking soda over the stain and leave it until the sides form a crust. Baking soda works as one of the best home carpet cleaners.
After that, vacuum up the particles.

Also Read: How To Get Tattoo Ink Out Of Carpet

🐱Pet Stains

Even after getting trained, our pets can make mistakes too. Here you can clear their poop and urine from the carpet-

Start by wiping up most of the mess using tissues or paper towels. If there is urine present, dry the area with a cloth.
Sprinkle the spot with a solution of water and liquid soap.
Rinse the area with warm water, then blot the surface to dry.
Keep on doing this until the stain diminishes.
In case you get a smell, spread baking soda around the area.

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🎨Paint Stains

Paint stains are common during wall painting. Here’s how to remove them from the whole carpet:

Use warm water to soak a white cotton towel for water-based paint, commonly referred to as latex paint, and apply it to the paint stain.
In the damp area, sprinkle some mild dish soap.
Once the cold water and dish soap have blended into a thin foam, start scrubbing the area using a scrub brush with firm bristles.
Repeat the cleaning process until you get satisfactory results.
Use a sharp knife or needle nose pliers to scrape any excess paint or heavier paint chunks from dried stains. Make sure to avoid using a dull knife.
Clean up any extra particles by vacuuming the carpet.

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🍅Ketchup Stain

If you have young children, you must have general stains like ketchup on your carpets and rags. Here’s how to remove them:

Mix one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid into two cups of cold water.
Soak a clean white cloth in this solution to sponge the stain.
Gently wipe the ketchup stain by slowly rubbing the liquid and the stain. Repeat the previous methods until the ketchup stain disappears.

Also Read: How To Remove Soap Spills

🤢Bonus Technique

Having a hangover can take a toll on your carpets too. The worst is when you clean your mess on your own.

Here’s a bonus cleaning technique to remove vomit stains:

Utilize blunt objects like a spoon or spatula to scrape most vomit off the carpet.
Fill your spray bottle with carpet stain cleaner or distilled white vinegar after diluting it with a small amount of water and spray.
Spray and damp the carpet with the solution and let it sit for a while.
Use your paper towels to blot the area dry.

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😉7 Carpet Cleaning Tips Pros Don’t Want To Reveal!

You’ve known the expert cleaning techniques for different carpet and stain types. But don’t miss these 7 expert deep cleaning tips to have a clean carpet:

Vacuum your carpets once a week (minimum).
You must remove stains and spills on the carpet as soon as possible. The deeper the stain penetrates your carpet, the longer it remains there.
Avoid rubbing stains. Use a clean cloth, paper towel, sponge, and a cleaning solution to gently dab spots. Rubbing alcohol and red wine also works wonders during routine cleaning. In fact, red wine is one of the most popular ways to pretreat stains.
Remove your shoes from the doorstep and walk bare feet on carpets to avoid bringing dirt inside.
If you have dog or cat pets, brush and bathe them from time to time to keep your carpets clean from pet hair.
Put down carpet pads. Besides cushioning your feet, carpet padding also makes it simpler to vacuum your rug or carpet and clean the hard surface floors beneath it. It helps in making the carpet cleaner.
Allow the rug to air dry completely on both sides. When the top side is completely dry, turn it over so the bottom can finish drying. This will allow you to have a clean carpet back again.

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👨‍🏫Carpet Cleaning FAQs

How often should you clean your carpet?

You must deep clean your carpet twice a week. Attend spills and stains immediately. You should perform deep cleaning at least twice a year, or you can take the help of a professional carpet cleaner or the carpet cleaning machine.

Do I need to deep clean my carpet?

Yes, it’s best to have routine deep cleanings twice a year, as carpets can collect dust and allergens that might irritate you and your family. Also, deep cleaning a carpet increases its lifespan and preserves its quality and color. Make sure you deep clean your carpet well.

Do I need a vacuum to clean a carpet?

Yes, you must do frequent vacuuming to effectively clean carpets’ dirt and bacteria and prevent indoor pollution. In addition, regular cleaning increases the carpet’s life and saves replacement costs.

What does baking soda do for carpets?

Baking soda is a tried-and-tested natural odor remover. Baking soda eliminates carpet and other textile stains quickly. This is one of the best carpet cleaning tips.

Is vinegar good for carpet cleaning?

Vinegar won’t damage or discolor carpet as long as it is diluted with water. Vinegar relieves odors from carpet fibers and also helps to remove various food stains. It works as great as a carpet cleaning machine.