Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Things You’ll Need:
- A good vacuum with a HEPA filter
- A wet/dry vacuum, carpet and rug shampooer, Bissell cleaner or rented Rug Doctor
- All Natural Green Carpet Cleaners: Bi-O-Kleen, Seventh Generation
- Pump Sprayer
- Fan to circulate air
Clean Your Carpet in a Green Way
Step1
Start by getting a vacuum that really sucks…in a good way. You want a vacuum with a HEPA filter that can suck up and trap all the dirt, dust and allergens that may be in your carpet. Vacuum really well a couple times a week. This will keep dust and dirt particles to a minimum. By thoroughly vacuuming regularly you are keeping all the dirt and dust to a minumum in your carpet fibers. This helps keep it clean and stop the dirt from being ground deep into the carpet.
Step2
Invest in a pump sprayer, like one you would use for outdoor staining or gardening. This is what you can put your mixture of carpet cleaning solution and water in to gently spray onto your carpets for cleaning. Most garden centerc carry sveral types. A small cheap one is fine. Don't get anything that will be too heavy for you to carry once it is full of water and cleaning solution.
Step3
Purchase a carpet shampooer, Bissell steam cleaner, or rent a Rug Doctor from your local grocery store. Do not fill it with water or use the shampoos that they suggest you use. Regular carpet shampoos are filled with harsh detergents and soap which does more damage than good. It leaves a residue on your carpet which will actually attract dirt faster than if you didn’t clean it at all. The only thing you want the vacuum/rug doctor for is to suck up your cleaning solution, not to put any wetness into the carpet.
Step4
Get great, natural carpet cleaning products like Bi-O-Kleen’s Bonnet Cleaner carpet cleaning solution. This is a great all natural cleaner that leaves no nasty residue on your carpet. Seventh Generation’s spray carpet cleaning solution is an excellent choice for spot cleaning. It gets nasty stains out easily. Both can be found in many natural stores and online retailers. If you have heavy duty stains you might also want to try Bi-O-Kleen’s Traffic Lane Cleaner, this can be mixed with the Bonnet Cleaner.
Step5
Move all your furniture and vacuum your carpets really well with your HEPA filter vacuum.
Step6
Mix your carpet cleaning solution and water (follow directions on label for amounts) in your pump sprayer. Use hot water.
Step7
Spray the solution all over your carpet. You want it to be wet but not drenched.
Step8
Use the mixed solution or a carpet spotter in a spray bottle, like Seventh Generation’s carpet cleaner and spray directly onto any stains. Nudge these with your foot and work the solution in.
Step9
Use your rug doctor/wet dry vacuum and start sucking up all the solution out of your carpet. This should get everything nice and clean without leaving a residue or toxic odors behind.
Step10
To make sure your carpets dry as fast as possible plug in fans to circulate the air and turn on overhead ceiling fans if you have any.