DIY: Tips For How To Clean Carpets

Carpet can be difficult to maintain. If you’re renting, you don’t have any say on what kind of flooring your unit has. This means you need to take care of the carpet on a regular basis because a landlord won’t replace the carpet unless it is absolutely necessary. This might not be as big of a deal if you’re in the unit for only one or two years, but if you end up staying long-term, you’ll wish you took good care of the carpet in those first few years of renting. Here are some tips on how to keep your carpet clean: 

Clean often

Everything is situational when it comes to a cleaning schedule that fits your specific needs, but a good rule of thumb is to vacuum weekly and get a deep cleaning once or twice a year. You may want to vacuum high-traffic areas more than once a week, especially around your entrance. If you have pets, you should vacuum a few times a week. Keeping dust from building up on the carpet will keep your carpet looking better for longer. 

Monthly cleaning

Once a month you’ll want to do a slightly more intensive clean than just your weekly vacuum. Before you start, go over any areas with crumbs with a lint roller for a quick cleanup. If you have any pets, get a rubber squeegee and run it over the carpet to collect any pet hair. 

After going through these steps, sprinkle some baking soda liberally all over your carpet and let it sit for at least an hour to absorb any oily stains and odors. Once that’s done, then it is time to vacuum. Repeat this once every month to avoid any odor or stains from building up on your carpet. 

Don’t wait to clean

[caption id="attachment_776" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Partial view of woman in rubber gloves cleaning striped carpet with foamy sponge[/caption]

It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, don’t waste any time when it comes to cleaning up a spill on your carpet. Immediately blot everything up with a moist white cloth or paper towel. If you drop any food or track mud onto the carpet, use something with a flat edge like a knife to scrape it up. Don’t ever smudge it into the carpet. 

If you end up with a visible stain, try using a mixture of one part distilled white vinegar and three parts warm water and put it in a spray bottle. Next, vacuum over the stain to remove any dirt or solids. After you vacuum, spray the cleaning solution onto the stained area until it is damp and let it set in for about five minutes. This will allow the solution to break down any stains. Finally, use a microfiber cloth to blot out the cleaning solution.