Carpet cleaning tips: how to clean a carpet yourself

Carpet cleaning tips: how to clean a carpet yourself

Try as you might, carpets will always draw everything from dirty footprints to stray pet hair. It's par for the course.

And while a weekly vacuum will help to deal with the more obvious offences, hidden debris will likely find its way into your carpet's fibres. To get to these deep, untouched areas, a thorough carpet clean is needed.

To see how to clean a carpet like a pro, read our top tips, below.

Remove debris and dirt

You might not notice it at first. It might even take a few times to spot. But look a little closer and you're sure to find dirt lurking in your carpet's fibres. Chances are, it's been there for some time, potentially causing long-lasting damage to your flooring.

That's because gritty dust and debris particles become rougher over time - and this means they eventually cut into your carpet's soft fibres. This makes them appear worn and matted. In turn, this means fibres are more susceptible to stains.

To combat these pesky dust particles, you need to thoroughly vacuum your carpet. For this, you need a vacuum which has strong airflow combined with an efficient agitator. The latter helps to physically shift dirt into the bin. In the case of our AirRam range, you'll find it comes with a handy rotating brush bar and AirLOC technology, so no residual particles are left behind.

To be sure the tiniest flecks of dirt are removed before your deep clean, vacuum slowly and in different directions - especially over high-traffic areas. This will eliminate any dirt that has been forced deep into your carpet's fibres.

TOP TIP: Keep an eye out for particles which aren't dust or debris. Things like liquids, make-up and coffee grounds can get stuck in vacuum bins which, in turn, cause mildew growth. To be sure you're only cleaning up vacuum-safe debris, try to find a cleaner with LED lights (like our AirRam).

Concoct a cleaning solution

Cleaning red carpet with homemade cleaner

Once you've cleared your floor and vacuumed up loose debris, it's time to tackle any stubborn stains and bad smells.

But before you rush out to buy expensive carpet shampoos, take a moment to browse your kitchen; you could find a much cheaper alternative sitting in your cupboards.

Not sure what to look for? These are just a handful of our favourite homemade cleaning remedies:

How to remove odours from carpets

What you need:

  • • Baking soda
  • • Vacuum cleaner

How to do it:

  1. 1. Lightly sprinkle your carpet with fresh baking soda (if you have a large carpet you may need to buy several tubs).
  2. 2. Let the solution sit on the fibres for around 30 minutes. Then, vacuum the baking soda away to reveal a revitalised carpet.

How to clean carpet stains

What you need:

  • • White vinegar
  • • Washing-up liquid
  • • Water

How to do it:

  1. 1. Stir one tablespoon of washing-up liquid and a ¼ teaspoon of white vinegar into 1 litre of tepid water.
  2. 2. First, test the solution on an inconspicuous portion of the carpet, to make sure it doesn’t damage the fibres.
  3. 3. Once you're happy, apply to the stain and leave to soak into the fibres for 30 minutes.
  4. 4. Using a cloth, wipe over the carpet. The stain should come away naturally.
  5. 5. Leave to dry completely before vacuuming.

TOP TIP: Always blot stains, even if they're fresh. If you rub them, you risk spreading the mark deeper into the carpet.

Now you're ready to clean a carpet by yourself, it's time to get the best vacuum cleaner for the job. For some of the most efficient cordless vacuums on the market, browse the Gtech cordless vacuum range today.

 

Share: