How to Deep-Clean Your Carpet

Vacuuming doesn't always restore a carpet's clean appearance. For heavily soiled carpets, shampooing is recommended, rather than spot-cleaning. Wet-cleaner machines spray and remove hot detergent solution while cleaning the carpet. Here are a few steps to get your carpet looking clean as new.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rubber Gloves
• Vinegar
• Prespray Carpet Cleaner
• Vacuum Cleaners & Accessories
• Wet Cleaner Vacuums
• Carpet Shampoos

1. Purchase or rent a wet-cleaner machine also known as a steamer, at a hardware or grocery store. When you rent a machine, the necessary cleaning products are usually included or can be purchased at the rental store.

2. Vacuum the floor thoroughly.

3. Spray heavily soiled areas with prespray or traffic-lane cleaner. For really dirty areas, increase the amount of prespray used instead of increasing the amount of carpet shampoo.

4. Fill the machine's hose or reservoir with hot tap water.

5. Use the machine and carpet shampoo according to the steamer manufacturer's instructions.

6. Maximize the amount of water removed from the carpet by making a water-extraction pass with the water spray on, and then again with the spray off. Test the carpet with your hand. If your hand comes away with water droplets, extract again with the spray off; if your hand comes away damp and the carpet feels wrung out, you have extracted correctly.

7. Wait overnight for the carpet to dry before walking on it. To dry thoroughly, open windows and use fans.

Tips & Warnings

• Special solutions are available to treat pet stains and odors.
• To help your cleaning last longer, neutralize detergent residue left on the carpet by steaming with a vinegar-water rinse made up of 1 c. vinegar and 1 gallon water.
• Oversaturating the carpet can cause water to soak through and damage the floor underneath.

[heatherschulte]

on 2/16/2009 Any tips for removing cat urine? How about coffee stains?

[payless70]

on 1/26/2009 The professionals at Payless Carpet Cleaners provide information and tips in regards to removing stains from carpets. Refer to http://www.payless-carpet-cleaners.com or if located in the South Florida region contact by telephone at [phone] or [phone].

[akendall]

on 1/20/2009 You should not bleach the carpet to go lighter, but you can dye the carpet to go darker. During carpet cleaning, If you leave the carpet too damp, it will rot the padding and stink permanently forcing you to replace the entire carpet. I have found that using fans and washing the carpet on a hot day helps. You can also spray the soapy water on in one pass, then go over the wet carpet three or four times to suck up the water. Repeat until the stain comes out. Do not put a lot of water on and let the water set. Put the water on, take it off, leave the rug damp, then come back and do the bad spots again. You can also use a floor scrubbing hand brush on the carpet in bad spots. In really soiled areas next to a door I have seen the carpet cleaners take his hand and put hot water on from a 5 gallon pail while the other guy soakes it up with the machine. This way the dark soap and dirt

[lvjenn]

on 10/2/2008 Home cleaning machines work sufficiently as long as you use HOT water. A lot of the machines use cold water. Also, a lot of them leave excess water behind which can cause mold and mildew.

[titani]

on 7/27/2008 My carpet is in good shape, yet some areas are discolored due to traffic. Can the whole carpet be bleached?

Thanks.