• Home
  • DIY
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
lets-do-diy.com
  • Home
  • DIY
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
lets-do-diy.com
You are at:Home»Projects and advice»How to clean a carpet

How to clean a carpet

Summary: Remove a carpet stain using a carpet cleaning machine and cleaning a carpet by hand.


There are two possible ways to remove stains and stubborn dirt from a carpet. The first involves hiring/using a carpet cleaning machine, the second method is cheaper and easier as it requires you to use a mix of laundry detergent and water. However the second method may not attain the same results as using a carpet cleaning machine.


Using a carpet cleaning machine

Rent a carpet cleaning machine. These can be obtained from most equipment hire stores. Choose the machine carefully by deciding which machine is most suitable for the job in hand. Some may be better for larger or smaller stains. Read instructions or ask advice from the hire store. Also purchase the cleaning solution required by the machine.

  • Having sufficiently cleared space to properly clean the carpet, vacuum the area in need of cleaning using a fresh vacuum bag. It is recommended that you clean in two different directions to help remove any excess dirt.
  • It is possible to use a treatment spray to pre-treat the carpet prior to using the machine. The stain remover should help loosen up the stain, enabling for easier removal.
  • Make sure you understand how to prepare and use the machine before you use it on your carpet. Follow the directions for adding cleaner and water.
  • When using the machine, run it in a similar way to a vacuum cleaner, by moving it forwards and backwards over the entire carpet. It is important to clean the whole carpet, as you don’t want the clean patch to stand out when it dries. You may want to run it multiple times over stained areas to ensure removal. Depending on the size of the carpet area you are cleaning, you may have to empty the dirty water and cleaner and replace it. Make sure you are fully aware of when to replace the water and cleaner.
  • Once the cleaning is completed, stay out of the room until the carpet is completely dry. Opening windows in or near the room will help dry the carpet quicker.
  • Look over the carpet once it is dry and decide whether you want to re-run the machine. It can take more than one time to clean a carpet if it is really dirty.

Cleaning a carpet by hand

To create a solution to put on the dirty patch of carpet, we recommend you mix some powder laundry detergent with water. The amount you use is up to you, however you should use common sense and not add too little or too much.

  • Vacuum the carpet thoroughly in different directions using a fresh vacuum cleaner bag.
  • Pre-treat the tougher stains by letting the solution soak in for 5 minutes prior to scrubbing. Use a carpet brush, scrub the stains gently but thoroughly. As with vacuuming, best results are gained by scrumming in different directions.
  • Once this part of the process is complete, lay old newspapers or cloths down to soak up excess liquid.
  • Replace the old soapy water with just fresh water (no cleaning detergent required). Brush the cleaned areas with just water to remove any excess soap. Leave the carpet to dry. Open windows to speed up drying time.
  • Try to make sure all detergent is removed from the carpet, as the excess detergent will pick up dirt very quickly, and will be strong smelling.
  • Vacuum the carpet once it is dry to pick up any excess dirt or fluff left behind.
  • A possible option is to apply carpet protector. This will prevent future stains penetrating deep into the carpet.

Carpet and upholstery cleaning video

Summary: DIY video showing you how to clean carpet, sofa and upholstery.

If an accident happens and there is a spillage on your carpet, sofa or upholstery it is important to remove the spillage as quickly as possible. A carpet, sofa or upholstery will get dirty gradually over time and the dirt cannot be removed instantly. If this is the case, when using a treatment to clean the dirt it is recommended that you first try the solution on a small area to test it.

Related projects

  • How to clean decking
  • Building a barbeque
  • Cleaning tiles

Recent Comments
  • Anonymous on Average air source heat pump cost (2022)
  • Reggie on Prepare your home for moth season
Latest News
0

Design trends for 2022 and 2023

0

Product Review: Handsaws

0

Product Review: Claw hammers

1

Prepare your home for moth season

Popular Guides

Average dehumidifier cost

Average TV aerial installation costs

Average cost to replace a radiator

Average cost of bricks

Popular Projects

Hanging a door

Gate maintenance

Fixing mosaic tiles to a wall

Hanging a gate

DIY Categories
Bathroom
Building, brickwork and masonry
Ceilings
Cleaning
Concrete work
Damp, rot and infestation
Drains
Electrical
Fireplaces
Floors
Garden
Heating
Insulation
Kitchen
Lighting
Lofts
Painting and decorating
Plasterwork
Plumbing
Roof and guttering
Safety
Security
Tiling
Walls
Windows
Woodwork

© 2022 lets do diy ltd
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT