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Wash dirt and stains out of your carpet with these pro tips
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Are your carpets starting to look a little dirty and dingy even after you vacuum? Dirt and dust get caught deep in your carpet, but shampooing can penetrate the fibers and help refresh their look. Washing your carpet takes a little time to get the deepest clean, but it’s so easy even if you haven’t done it before. Just keep reading, and we’ll walk you through how to prepare your room and run a shampooer so your carpet is spot-free!
Things You Should Know
- Start by moving all your furniture off the carpet and vacuuming loose dirt. Pretreat any stains with a stain remover to lighten them before shampooing.
- Fill a carpet shampooer with warm water and cleaner . Slowly pull the shampooer across your room while holding the button down to wash the carpet.
- Run the shampooer with cold water and soap to rinse out the soap. Let your carpet dry for 6–10 hours before moving your furniture back.
Steps
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Move all your furniture off the carpet. Anytime you shampoo carpet, take all of your furniture completely out of the room if possible. If you’re limited for space and not able to move it out of the room, then shift the furniture all to the side of the room with the least amount of stains or dirt. Find a temporary spot to keep small pieces of furniture and any other clutter from the room. [1] X Research source
- If you can’t or don’t want to move large pieces of furniture, place squares of aluminum foil or plastic film under the legs or bases to protect them from moisture. [2] X Research source
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Vacuum the room thoroughly. Run your vacuum through the room to remove larger dirt, hair, and dust balls so it doesn’t get caught in the shampooer. Go in straight lines up and down the room and then go over the area again in the opposite direction. Your vacuum will also fluff the carpet up, which helps the shampoo reach deep into the fibers so it’s more effective. [3] X Research source
- As you vacuum, look for stains and set a sticky note or marker of some kind on the spot so you can easily find and pretreat it before shampooing.
- If you want to clean your carpet without a machine sprinkle some powder carpet cleaner before you vacuum. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming it up. [4] X Research source
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Pretreat carpet stains with a stain remover . If you’re dealing with a fresh stain, blot up as much as you can with a clean white towel. Spray the stain with the remover and let it sit for a minute or two according to the directions on the package. Blot the stain again with another clean cloth to lift up as much of the stain as possible. Treat all of the stains on your carpet so the shampooer can wash them out more easily. [5] X Research source
- Test your stain remover on an inconspicuous spot on your carpet first to ensure it doesn’t change the color.
- To treat stains naturally, try using baking soda or spraying the stain with a solution made from equal parts water and distilled white vinegar. [6] X Research source
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Read the instructions for your shampooer . Buy a shampooer or rent one for the day from your local hardware store. There are a variety of shampooers and carpet cleaners, and they each work a little differently, so always read through the manual before you start. Some shampooers work if you push them forward like a vacuum. [7] X Research source Others may require you to walk backward and pull the shampooer along with you. [8] X Research source
- If your shampooer rental didn’t come with instructions, look up the brand and model name online along with “instructions” or “tutorial.” You may find a manual or helpful video online specifically for your cleaner.
- Before you get a shampooer, check if it's been verified by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), which ensures the machine meets carpet cleaning standards. Machines that aren’t certified may not clean as effectively.
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Fill the shampooer’s water tank with warm water. Locate the clean water tank on your shampooer, and open the fill valve. Use a cup or pitcher to pour warm water into the tank until you reach the max fill line. After that, close the fill valve. [9] X Research source
- Some shampooers have a removable water tank so it’s easier to fill.
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Add carpet shampoo to the water tank or soap compartment. Choose a soap that’s designed to work with the shampooer you have because not every soap will work with every machine. Pour only the amount of soap that is directed, which is usually about 1 ⁄ 2 cup (120 ml) per 1 US gal (3.8 L) of water. [10] X Research source If your shampooer has a separate soap compartment, pour the shampoo into it. Otherwise, add the shampoo directly to the clean water tank. [11] X Research source
- Most shampooers work well without soap and will still flush dirt and stains out of the carpet. Only use the recommended amount of soap listed in the cleaner’s manual.
- Spot-test the shampoo in an inconspicuous spot of your carpet before putting it into your shampooer. Make sure it doesn’t cause any damage or color-bleeding
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Pull the shampooer in a straight line to wash your carpet. Start in the corner of your room furthest from the entryway so you don’t walk over an area you just cleaned. Hold down the button on the handle and slowly pull the shampooer backward in a straight line. Go slowly so the cleaner moves about 1 foot (30 cm) every 1–2 seconds so the shampoo and brushes have time to scrub the carpet fibers. Let go of the button when you’re about 6 inches (15 cm) from the opposite wall. [12] X Research source
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Work across the room in long, overlapping strips. When you reach the wall on the opposite side of the room, turn around, move the shampooer over so it slightly overlaps the strip you just cleaned, and walk back toward the wall where you started. Keep pulling the shampooer in long strips until you reach the entryway [13] X Research source
- Shampooers are not meant to be pulled back and forth in a random pattern like vacuums, so making straight lines across the room will give you a deeper clean.
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Listen for the shampooer getting louder to know when it’s empty. As you run your shampooer, it will suck up all the dirt and water into a separate tank. Listen for the shampooer’s motor to get louder, which is a sign the float valve in the dirty water tank has engaged and filled up. Stop shampooing immediately so you don’t damage the machine. [14] X Research source
- The shampooer might also have a visible light or gauge that shows you that the dirty water tank is full. Alternatively, watch the water levels of the clean and dirty tanks, and stop if you’re almost out of clean water.
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Empty the dirty water tank into the toilet or outside when it’s full. Disconnect the dirty water tank from your shampooer and carefully carry it outside or to your bathroom. Since the water can be really dirty or have bad odors, flush it down your toilet or pour it on the ground outside. Rinse the dirty water tank out before reattaching it to your shampooer. [15] X Research source
- If you’re not finished cleaning your carpet yet, refill the shampooer with more water and carpet cleaner. Depending on the size of your room, you may have to refill the tank multiple times. [16] X Research source
- To get your carpets the cleanest, run your shampooer over the same strip of carpet until the water looks clear in the tank.
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Run the shampooer a second time with cold water and no soap. Your shampooer may leave behind some soap or dirt after you run it, so fill the tank with clean, cold water and skip the carpet shampoo. Pull the shampooer over your carpet to make a second pass over the entire room to rinse out all of the leftover residue and remaining dirt. [17] X Research source
- Cold water helps prevent the soap from foaming up again.
- Take off your shoes and socks this time around so you don’t leave any dirt on the freshly cleaned carpet.
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Let your carpet dry for 6–10 hours before moving furniture back in. Avoid walking on your carpet while it’s drying so it stays clean. Turn on an overhead fan, open windows, or place fans around the room to help increase the airflow and speed up your drying time. Once the carpet is completely dry, move your furniture back into the room. [18] X Research source
- If you put furniture back on wet carpet, it can leave indentations and create mildew.
- Your carpet will dry faster during warm weather, but may take longer if there’s high humidity.
- If you still see a little soap residue leftover after your carpet dries, do a final pass with your vacuum to suck it up.
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Rinse and empty both tanks of the shampooer. After your final pass, dump any remaining water out of both water tanks. Rinse the water tanks out thoroughly so that no grime remains in them. If the tank has a cap of any kind, leave it off for a day or two to allow the excess water to completely evaporate. [19] X Research source
- Emptying the tanks all the way keeps mildew from growing and keeps the machine in top working order.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you deep clean carpets?Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.Carpet shampooing provides a deep clean on your carpets due to its scrubbing action. It is always recommended to vacuum your carpets prior to shampooing them.
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QuestionWhat is the best way to clean a carpet?Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.Regular vacuuming and spot cleaning are great techniques for maintaining clean carpet. However, it is also recommended to shampoo and steam clean your carpets a couple of times a year to provide optimal cleanliness to preserve your carpets. Shampooing is perfect for heavily stained carpets due to its scrubbing properties and steam cleaners use a vacuum and pump system to quickly remove soil and stains.
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QuestionHow do I shampoo my own carpet?Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.You need to use a carpet shampoo machine. If you don't have one, you can rent or buy one. If you are not familiar with the shampoo machine, be sure to read the instruction manual fully. Typically, you will start by filling the water tank area with water to the directed water line then add in the carpet soap. Shampooers are not meant to be pulled back and forward, so you will need to walk the machine from wall to wall. Move the machine to a new line and walk it back to the initial wall until the entire room has been cleaned. Be sure to run the machine across the room a second time; however, this time do not add any soap to the reservoir.
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Tips
- Deep-clean your carpets about once every 12–18 months to keep them looking clean and fresh. [20] X Research source If you have pets or your carpets get a lot of foot traffic, shampoo every 8 months instead. [21] X Research sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Some carpet types are not meant to be cleaned with a shampooer. If you have carpet made of natural fibers, such as wool, the hot water can shrink the fibers. [22] X Research sourceThanks
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Things You’ll Need
- Vacuum
- Carpet stain remover
- Microfiber cleaning cloths
- Carpet shampooer
- Carpet shampoo
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/4UT_og5M0FY?t=47
- ↑ https://www.godfreys.com.au/media/catalog/product/file/12300124.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/oWMixszFr34?t=58
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/za/floor-and-surface-cleaning/easy-carpet-cleaning-tips-remove-stains-and-odours-from-your-carpets.html
- ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-carpet
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/10-homemade-carpet-cleaning-remedies-577474
- ↑ https://youtu.be/no90Kn-jOMQ?t=39
- ↑ https://youtu.be/oWMixszFr34?t=112
- ↑ https://househappy.co.uk/how-to-use-a-carpet-cleaner/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/MT-YkiHl8T8?t=96
- ↑ https://youtu.be/VcIyPih4Ebc?t=15
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vdVaKbc5o24?t=242
- ↑ https://youtu.be/MT-YkiHl8T8?t=173
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vdVaKbc5o24?t=303
- ↑ https://youtu.be/K_zKkhCQGmg?t=424
- ↑ https://youtu.be/MT-YkiHl8T8?t=240
- ↑ https://househappy.co.uk/how-to-use-a-carpet-cleaner/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-long-does-it-take-carpet-to-dry-after-cleaning/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/oWMixszFr34?t=188
- ↑ https://carpet-rug.org/carpet-for-homes/cleaning-and-maintenance/
- ↑ https://househappy.co.uk/how-to-use-a-carpet-cleaner/
- ↑ https://www.woolsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Cleaning-Maint-of-Wool-Cpts-A5-UPDATED-sept-2014.pdf
About This Article
Article Summary
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Before shampooing a carpet, either rent or buy a machine designed to shampoo carpet. Next, fill the carpet shampooer with water and carpet soap according to the directions that came with your machine. Then, start shampooing in a corner of the room and slowly pull the machine across the carpet in straight, overlapping lines. When you’ve cleaned the entire carpet, refill the machine with only cold water, and go over the carpet again to rinse out soap residue from the carpet fibers. Finally, let the floor dry for at least 6 hours. For tips on how to store your carpet shampooer between uses, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "After reading the article, I went over my carpets with the cold water. What a difference! I got up lots of shampoo residue, and now I know why the hall carpet didn't really look clean after a few days. Pity the instructions with my machine didn't say to do it. Thanks." ..." more
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"After reading the article, I went over my carpets with the cold water. What a difference! I got up lots of shampoo residue, and now I know why the hall carpet didn't really look clean after a few days. Pity the instructions with my machine didn't say to do it. Thanks."
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"Thank you, it helped me realize that I should protect the furniture on the carpet being cleaned and that I should go over the carpet once with soap, once with cold water, and once empty to suck up the extra water."
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