Your Ten Step Guide to DIY Carpet Cleaning
By No1 Carpet Cleaning Melbourne|January 21, 2022
I think we can all agree that cleaning your carpets is an important part of living in adulthood. With that said, there are times when calling in a professional may not be necessary or you may just prefer to do these tasks on your own. So, how exactly can you DIY a thorough carpet clean?
While it may seem tricky to do on your own, it’s much simpler than one would think. Read on for ten steps to DIYing a thorough carpet clean.
1. Remove All Dust and Loose Dirt
Before you begin, make sure you tidy the room and remove all dust and loose dirt. Use a good-quality vacuum to ensure you’re picking up as many loose particles as possible. The fewer loose particles in the way during the carpet clean, the easier it will be for the cleaner to get deeper into the carpet for a more thorough wash.
2. Use a Lint Brush to Remove Pet Fur
After you’ve vacuumed, survey the room and pick up any excess pet fur that the vacuum missed. Experts from NO1 Carpet Cleaning recommends to use a lint roller. It is great for this as it’s sticky and may even pick up more that you didn’t initially see. It’s recommended to use a lint roller in between deep cleanings to ensure the carpet fibers don’t get too clogged.
3. Use Furniture Lifts or Pads
Now that all loose particles have been taken care of, you’re almost ready to start the carpet cleaner. However, it’s helpful to place furniture lifts or protective pads near the legs of any furniture in the room. This will keep water from the cleaner from pooling near the legs and causing potential damage.
4. Use a Carpet Cleaner or Steamer
Now you’re ready to get your carpet cleaner going. Depending on the model or brand you choose, it will be set up a little differently. With that said, these cleaning contraptions all run in essentially the same way. All you do is put water into the machine and then detergent either in the water or in a separate compartment. It’s advised to use warm water and never water that’s too hot. Water that is at too high of a temperature can cause damage to your machine or yourself.
Depending on your machine, you may have different settings to choose from during the process. With that said, you should always start at the furthest spot from the door so you don’t walk on a wet carpet. Move slowly and pay attention to the water. Once the dirty water tank is full, you’ll need to empty it out before you keep going.
5. Spot Clean Where Needed
Spot cleaning should be done before and after you clean your carpets. Before cleaning, wait five minutes after spot treatment before running the carpet cleaner. After your initial clean, wait for the room to dry completely before examining the result. If you find there are still spots with stains, move accordingly.
6. Removing Wine Stains
An effective way in removing red wine stains is by mixing 3 parts hydrogen peroxide to one part dish soap. Apply the solution to the stain and let it work for around an hour before blotting the spot with a damp white washcloth. Using a white cloth is best because you can monitor how much of the stain is being lifted.
7. Removing Coffee Stains
To remove coffee stains, mix one tablespoon of dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of warm water. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and dab onto the coffee stain. Start at the edge of the stain and move toward the middle to avoid spreading the stain.
8. Removing Grease Stains
Grease stains can typically be removed by using a mixture of baking soda and water. To lift the stain, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the affected area. After that, fill a spray bottle with warm water and spray the area until it becomes slightly damp. Let the mixture sit on the grease stain for a few hours (or overnight) before vacuuming. Any leftover residue should be able to be cleaned with soap and water.
9. Removing Ink Stains
Getting ink stains out of carpet can be done relatively easily by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray the affected area, wait a few minutes, and blot dry with a damp white cloth. You can also try dipping a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol and dabbing the area until the stain lifts.
10. Removing Blood Stains
To get blood out of the carpet, mix 2 cups of cold water, 2 cups of white vinegar, and four tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl. Apply the mixture to the stain and allow it to soak into the area for five minutes. Blot the carpet dry with a clean, damp cloth.
When removing blood stains, using cold water is important. If you use warm water for cleaning a blood stain, the blood will clot and become much trickier to fully clean out of the carpet.
While it may seem tricky to do on your own, it’s much simpler than one would think. Read on for ten steps to DIYing a thorough carpet clean.
1. Remove All Dust and Loose Dirt
Before you begin, make sure you tidy the room and remove all dust and loose dirt. Use a good-quality vacuum to ensure you’re picking up as many loose particles as possible. The fewer loose particles in the way during the carpet clean, the easier it will be for the cleaner to get deeper into the carpet for a more thorough wash.
2. Use a Lint Brush to Remove Pet Fur
After you’ve vacuumed, survey the room and pick up any excess pet fur that the vacuum missed. Experts from NO1 Carpet Cleaning recommends to use a lint roller. It is great for this as it’s sticky and may even pick up more that you didn’t initially see. It’s recommended to use a lint roller in between deep cleanings to ensure the carpet fibers don’t get too clogged.
3. Use Furniture Lifts or Pads
Now that all loose particles have been taken care of, you’re almost ready to start the carpet cleaner. However, it’s helpful to place furniture lifts or protective pads near the legs of any furniture in the room. This will keep water from the cleaner from pooling near the legs and causing potential damage.
4. Use a Carpet Cleaner or Steamer
Now you’re ready to get your carpet cleaner going. Depending on the model or brand you choose, it will be set up a little differently. With that said, these cleaning contraptions all run in essentially the same way. All you do is put water into the machine and then detergent either in the water or in a separate compartment. It’s advised to use warm water and never water that’s too hot. Water that is at too high of a temperature can cause damage to your machine or yourself.
Depending on your machine, you may have different settings to choose from during the process. With that said, you should always start at the furthest spot from the door so you don’t walk on a wet carpet. Move slowly and pay attention to the water. Once the dirty water tank is full, you’ll need to empty it out before you keep going.
5. Spot Clean Where Needed
Spot cleaning should be done before and after you clean your carpets. Before cleaning, wait five minutes after spot treatment before running the carpet cleaner. After your initial clean, wait for the room to dry completely before examining the result. If you find there are still spots with stains, move accordingly.
6. Removing Wine Stains
An effective way in removing red wine stains is by mixing 3 parts hydrogen peroxide to one part dish soap. Apply the solution to the stain and let it work for around an hour before blotting the spot with a damp white washcloth. Using a white cloth is best because you can monitor how much of the stain is being lifted.
7. Removing Coffee Stains
To remove coffee stains, mix one tablespoon of dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of warm water. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and dab onto the coffee stain. Start at the edge of the stain and move toward the middle to avoid spreading the stain.
8. Removing Grease Stains
Grease stains can typically be removed by using a mixture of baking soda and water. To lift the stain, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the affected area. After that, fill a spray bottle with warm water and spray the area until it becomes slightly damp. Let the mixture sit on the grease stain for a few hours (or overnight) before vacuuming. Any leftover residue should be able to be cleaned with soap and water.
9. Removing Ink Stains
Getting ink stains out of carpet can be done relatively easily by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray the affected area, wait a few minutes, and blot dry with a damp white cloth. You can also try dipping a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol and dabbing the area until the stain lifts.
10. Removing Blood Stains
To get blood out of the carpet, mix 2 cups of cold water, 2 cups of white vinegar, and four tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl. Apply the mixture to the stain and allow it to soak into the area for five minutes. Blot the carpet dry with a clean, damp cloth.
When removing blood stains, using cold water is important. If you use warm water for cleaning a blood stain, the blood will clot and become much trickier to fully clean out of the carpet.
