How to Deep Clean Carpet: A Step-by-Step Guide

We’ve all dropped something messy, realized how many stains we’ve incurred on the carpeting over the course of our lease, or moved into a place and immediately searched for, "How to deep clean a carpet?" The good news is that you don’t have to live with a funky, paint-stained carpet. Cleaning your carpet can restore its appearance and protect your security deposit, not to mention help get rid of germs and allergens.

We put together a guide to everything you need to know about carpet cleaning, from suggested frequency to necessary supplies.

How Often Should You Deep Clean Your Carpet?

Aim to do a carpet deep cleaning once every 12 to 18 months, but you may need a more aggressive schedule if you need to take extra care of certain residents — perhaps babies who crawl on the floor or elderly occupants who have respiratory issues — or if your pets leave behind stains. You might also want to deep clean your carpet more regularly simply because you prefer the way it looks, smells, and feels when it’s fresh. Here’s how to get started.

What to Use to Clean Carpets

There are a few essential tools you’ll need for a deep carpet cleaning.

• Vacuum: You don’t need a deep cleaning vacuum to clean carpet stains, even if they’re especially stubborn.
• Spray bottle: You can rinse out an old spray bottle to use when you wash carpet.
• Cloth: Grab old, white rags, at least one of which should be microfiber.
• Bucket: Rinse out a bucket. It’s essential that it’s free from residue.
• Wooden spoon: An old spoon or paint stirrer is helpful for mixing your cleaning solutions.
• Fan: Choose several fans or an oscillating fan to help dry your cleaned carpet.
• Scrub brush: It’s best to use a brush with nylon bristles so you can target spots and stains.
• Clothes steamer or steam mop: A clothes steamer or steam mop can go a long way toward cleaning your carpet, especially if you don’t want to rent a steam-cleaning vacuum.
• Distilled white vinegar: You can use a generic, inexpensive vinegar to clean carpet.
• Baking soda: Buy a fresh box of baking soda to remove stains and odors without resorting to harsh chemicals.
• Salt: Sprinkling an inexpensive table salt on the carpets will help to brighten them up naturally.
• Tarp: An old tarp or plastic sheet is handy to protect your carpet, so you can continue walking on it as it dries.

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s time to do a few simple tests on your carpet.

Testing for Colorfastness

Some solutions, such as distilled vinegar, could impact the color of a carpet. When you clean carpets, ensure your cleaning solution of choice won’t fade the colors.

How to Test for Colorfastness

Even if you’re only spot-cleaning your carpet, you should do a colorfastness test in an area that isn’t obvious, like in your closet or underneath furniture that won’t be visible.

Step 1: Apply your chosen cleaner to one of your clean cloths and place it over a small, unnoticeable section of the carpet.

Step 2: Let it sit for one hour or more.

Step 3: Remove the cloth and blot the area with another clean white cloth. If the cloth doesn't pick up any color, your carpet is colorfast and safe to deep clean.

Step 4: Repeat the colorfastness test for each cleaning method.

Once you’ve determined that your cleaning solution is safe, it’s time to deep clean your carpet.

Best Ways to Deep Clean a Carpet

The best way to clean a carpet is through experimentation and persistence. You may need to spend time on a specific step, like steam cleaning or working with baking soda and salt. Here are the different ways to deep clean a carpet and the steps to follow.

Steam Cleaning

If you want to steam clean your carpet, you’ll need to do a little prep work first.

Step 1: Vacuum and Pretreat the Carpet

Washing carpet starts with a good vacuum to get rid of dust, dirt, and small debris. Adjust your vacuum to the highest suction and appropriate height to maximize your results. Move any furniture and clutter out of the way and vacuum anything that could impact your deep clean.

Step 2: Sprinkle Salt and Baking Soda

Use your bucket and wooden spoon to mix a one-to-one mixture of baking soda and salt. Depending on how large your rug or carpet is, you’ll need about a cup of each ingredient. Once that’s complete, sprinkle the mixture generously across your carpet and get your nylon brush ready.

Step 3: Steam

Your clothes steamer or steam mop designed for hard-surface floors can help restore your carpet. After sprinkling your carpet with your baking soda and salt mixture, use your steamer to dampen your carpet. Next, take your scrub brush and gently work on the mixture to clean the area.

Step 4: Dry and Vacuum

Use your towels or microfiber cloths to absorb any leftover salt, baking soda, or debris. If there are any stains, repeat the process before letting your carpet dry completely. If your carpet is very damp, open the windows and turn on your fans to help the process. When your carpet is dry to the touch, use your vacuum to remove any remaining residue.

Baking Soda and Salt

Cleaning carpets without a machine is simple with the help of baking soda and salt. You also don’t need a steamer for this method.

Step 1: Vacuum and Pretreat the Carpet

Thoroughly vacuum your carpet and remove any debris. It's also wise to pretreat your carpet with a colorfastness test to make sure the color doesn’t fade. If you have any light stains, you can dab them with water to see if they come up on their own.

Step 2: Sprinkle Salt and Baking Soda

Create your salt and baking soda blend by mixing one cup of each ingredient. Use your bucket and wooden spoon to avoid touching it directly. From the bucket, sprinkle the mixture liberally across your carpet. Add more to the spots and stains that will probably need more work. If you run out, make more as needed.

Step 3: Spray and Scrub

Fill your spray bottle with cold water and spray across your carpet. You want to make it damp without it getting sopping wet, as a steamer would do. Next, take your scrub brush and work gently across your carpet in one direction. Keep spraying and clean out your brush if the solution starts to collect along its bristles.

Step 4: Dry and Vacuum

Use dry rags to wipe away any loosened soil, but it's okay if some baking soda remains in the fibers. Dab any particularly damp areas and let your carpet air-dry completely. When it's totally dry, use your vacuum to remove any excess baking soda for a fresh-smelling carpet.

Distilled White Vinegar

After you’ve done the colorfastness test with distilled white vinegar, you can proceed with this method. If you’re sensitive to strong smells, open a window to help air out the area. Although this vinegar solution is generally mild and shouldn’t bother you, it’s important to take a break if you feel dizzy.

Step 1: Vacuum and Pretreat the Carpet

In the same way as the other deep carpet-cleaning methods, start by vacuuming and pretreating your carpet. Remove any large dust balls or debris to prevent damage to your vacuum. Spray any spots or stains with water and blot with old rags.

Step 2: Create a Solution of Water and White Vinegar

Mix one part white vinegar and three parts cold water in your bucket. Rinse out your spray bottle and fill it before screwing on the top securely. You should plan to refill your spray bottle several times if you're cleaning a large area.

Step 3: Apply Your Solution

Apply your vinegar solution to your carpet, getting it damp without over-saturating it. You should follow a grid pattern or otherwise keep track of the areas you’ve covered. Let it sit on your carpet for five to 10 minutes. Then, proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Blot with a Microfiber Cloth

Use one of your dry microfiber cloths to blot the solution and gather the soil that comes up with it. Fill your bucket with clean water to rinse out your cloth as you go. You may need to change the water several times if you have especially dirty carpets and floors. Switch to another cloth if you can no longer rinse it clean.

Step 5: Allow Your Carpet to Air-Dry

If it's warm outside, open your windows and doors to get the airflow moving through the room. Using a fan can also help speed up the drying process. In cold weather, try turning up your heat slightly instead. It’s recommended to stay off your carpet until it's fully dry, but if you need to walk across it, you can put down a tarp to prevent it from staining again.

How to Keep Carpet Clean All Year Round

Once your carpet is deep cleaned, you’ll want to keep it that way year-round. Preventing it from getting soiled is easier than repeating the deep-cleaning process multiple times a year.

• Use doormats: Doormats prevent dirt and grime before it even enters your apartment. Remember to include mats on your balcony too.
• Take off your shoes: Remove your shoes before you enter the apartment and place them in a designated area to keep dirt off your carpet.
• Dust regularly: Dust accumulation on furniture, blinds, and baseboards all contribute to dirty carpets. Dust regularly with a damp rag and an appropriate cleaner or vinegar solution.
• Vacuum regularly: If you’re not home that often, vacuuming your carpet once a week is probably fine. Otherwise, vacuum at least twice a week and directly after hosting an event in your space.
• Treat stains as soon as they appear: Stains happen, no matter how careful you are. Treat them immediately before they set in and damage the appearance of your carpet.
• Change your HVAC filters: If you rent a private condo or home, you may have access to your HVAC filters. Clean them or change them out at least twice a year.
• Swap out your vacuum cleaner bag: Keep your tools and supplies clean by regularly swapping out the vacuum bag. This will keep your machine working more efficiently for the best results.
• Take care of your pets: Your furry friends are prone to shedding and leaving behind dirt and debris. Brush them and clean out litter boxes regularly to avoid carpet contamination.

With the right approach, you can keep your carpet looking and smelling fresh all year long.

Final Thoughts

Figuring out how to deep clean a carpet is simple but does take some time and persistence to get the job done. It could also help when it’s time to move out. These carpet cleaning tips could even help get your security deposit back in full and earn a rave landlord reference for your consideration and care.

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Carpet Deep Cleaning FAQs

How Long Does Carpeting Last?

Depending on how heavily your carpets are trafficked, they can last between five and 15 years — or longer. Cleaning carpets can help restore their longevity and appearance, but at some point, they will likely need to be replaced.

How Often Should I Vacuum My Carpet?

It's a good idea to vacuum your carpet at least twice a week to remove particles and loose carpet fibers. If you're not home very often, once a week is fine. If you host a party, clean and vacuum your carpet right after your guests leave or early the next day.

How Often Should I Deep Clean My Carpet?

Carpet manufacturers usually recommend a deep clean around every 12 months, making spring cleaning season a good time to do it. If your carpet is old or highly trafficked by friends, pets, and children, you may need to clean it every six months.