Most people have at least some carpeting or a rug in their home. If you’re one of those people, we’re here to help you with all of your carpet cleaning questions whether you’re interested in finding out how to effectively use cleaning machines or how to clean a carpet by hand.
Sooner or later, your carpet will become dirty no matter how hard you try to keep it clean. Your kids, pets, and those who forget to remove their muddy shoes track dirt and dust into your home.
You might not even notice it at first. But later, when the dirt and dust have accumulated, it will become noticeable. In this article, you’ll learn how to clean a carpet by hand using inexpensive items you can easily find in your home instead of buying expensive carpet cleaners.
With just a few items and tools you can pick around your home, your carpet will be looking as good as new in no time.
How To Clean Your Carpet By Hand Without Using A Carpet Cleaner
Even when you don’t have any money to buy or rent a carpet cleaner, your carpet can still get cleaned. There are many methods you can use and homemade solutions you can mix that are also effective in removing stains, removing bad smells, and cleaning your carpet.
Move all the furniture
First things first: move all the furniture from the room to create space for you to work. You might need some assistance moving some of the furniture.
Beat the carpet outside
Just like the old days when grandma used a stick to remove dirt from the carpet or rug, take your rug outside to beat dirt and dust out. A lot of dust and dirt will be emitted by your carpet, which can cause respiratory problems. Be sure to wear a mask or a cloth over your nose and mouth to avoid inhaling all that dust.
Use a carpet brush or broom
There could be hard particles or food granules stuck in the carpet fibers. Use a carpet brush or broom to remove the food particles and loosen any debris left in your carpet.
Vacuum
After removing all the dust, dirt, debris, and pet hair, pass a vacuum across the entire carpet to pick up any dirt and loose debris you might have missed when sweeping. Sweep and vacuum your carpet every week to make sure it doesn’t accumulate dirt and dust and to keep it fresh. During this process, look for any stains on your carpet that need to be pre-treated before you start cleaning.
Remove stains
To avoid stains from staying in your carpet and making it look dingy, clean spills immediately after they happen. Foods and oil-based stains from things like lipstick, mayonnaise, ink, or nail polish can accidentally fall on your carpet. You may worry that the stain won’t come out, but don’t panic!
Just dip a cloth in rubbing alcohol and blot continuously to remove the stain. You can also use mix vinegar and water and pour it on the stain to clean it. For general stains, use some warm water and detergent and a cloth to blot the mixture on the stained area. Repeat this process until the stain disappears.
Use vinegar to clean your carpet
Instead of using a carpet cleaner, you can still get your carpet clean and smelling fresh with a few items. Fill a bucket with warm water and white vinegar in equal parts and add a few drops of mild bleach-free dish soap.
Dip a small bristle brush into the solution and start scrubbing your carpet. The carpet should be a bit wet but not saturated with the cleaning solution. To make your work easier and more manageable, divide the area you’re working on into small sections.
Clean the carpet in straight lines and don’t scrub too hard to avoid damaging your carpet’s fibers.
Rinse your carpet with clean water
After you’ve finished scrubbing, pour out the cleaning solution and fill the bucket with clean water. Dip a rug or a cloth towel in the bucket, wring out excess water and use it to scrub the carpet again. Pass over the entire carpet a second time to remove any soap residue and remaining dirt.
Vacuum to remove moisture
Vacuum your carpet to remove excess moisture left on the carpet. This will prevent your carpet from forming mold and mildew. You can also speed up the drying process by using a floor fan or opening the windows and doors to allow air to circulate in the room.
Sprinkle baking soda
Baking soda is an inexpensive product that is environmentally friendly and one that you can use to remove odor and stains on your carpet. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the carpet when it’s slightly damp to help absorb any lingering odor or dirt. Let it sit for about 3 hours or overnight.
Vacuum the baking soda
Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the baking soda on your carpet the next morning after it has dried. You can now move your furniture and all the other items back to their places. If you place your furniture on a carpet that hasn’t completely dried, it will create an environment for mildew to build up.
If you’re unable to clean your carpet because of stubborn stains or you can’t clean the carpet by hand because it’s too large to clean by yourself, you can seek the help of professional cleaners. They have the expertise and the right chemicals that will help easily remove tough stains.
Conclusion
There are many ways of how to clean your carpet by hand. The simplest way of quickly cleaning up a mess is by doing it yourself with items that are already available in your home.
It takes a lot of work an effort to clean your carpet by hand, but the results are worth it. You save the money you would have used to buy expensive cleaners, your carpet no longer has stains, dirt, or a bad odor, and the baking soda leaves it smelling fresh.