Your carpet is actually one of the largest air filters in your home, so it holds things like dirt, pet hair, dander, and even allergens. That’s why it’s really important to go through with a vacuum cleaner first and remove that top layer as much as possible. After just one year, even new carpeting can hold as much as one pound of dust, dirt, and mold per square inch. This can affect your health and can cause breathing problems. You can use these simple steps to clean your carpets:
Vacuum Thoroughly
This way, when we come through with the carpet cleaner and shampoo, we’ll be able to reach the deeply embedded dirt and grime and remove that from the carpet as well. I recommend having a good vacuum cleaner for this.
If you have more of a shaggy, high-pile carpet, I recommend vacuuming the room in a 360-degree pattern. These types of fibers tend to fall in different directions and can trap dirt and debris in the carpet. So, if you only vacuum in one direction, you might leave some of that behind. So, by vacuuming in a 360 pattern, you’re able to remove as much of that first layer of dry dirt as possible.
Choose the Right Cleaning Solution
When it comes to picking the right cleaner, there are a variety of options on the market, and I’ve tested just about every single one. The two that I like to recommend are these ones here.
The first one is Ultra Pack from Prochem. My family and I actually use this in our professional carpet cleaning business locally, and we think it does an amazing job. The only problem is that it’s pretty expensive — about $50 for just one gallon.
The second option is this one here from Zep. What’s cool about this one is that it’s only $13 compared to the $50 Prochem, and it cleans just as well. You can also find it at just about any big-box store.
Pre-Testing the Carpet
When it comes to mixing up your carpet cleaning soap, your first thought might be to just grab it and throw it into your machine. Now, if you do this, what happens is it doesn’t give the soap enough time to work and do its job. Plus, this can lead to the carpet getting sticky and crunchy, and it may leave a residue behind.
So instead, what I like to do is mix it up in a pump-up sprayer. This gives the soap time to work. When it comes to mixing up the Zep, it’s really simple — just 5 oz to every 1 gallon of water.
Now, if you’re using any other cleaner, remember: the label is always the law, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions. I just come through, spray all the carpets down, and let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes so it can break down and dissolve all the deeply embedded dirt and grime that are stuck to the fibers.
Plus, when we come through in our next step, we won’t leave any crunchy carpet behind.
For the high-traffic areas, I go a little heavier with the spray.
Now, I often get asked, “Can I just use a regular spray bottle?” And you can. The problem is that your hand is going to get really tired from pumping it.
If you have a few pets in your house, you might notice a few spots, and I like to treat those a little differently. For that, I use an enzyme-based cleaner called War on Pee. It will help with odors.
Using a Carpet Cleaner
Now that the carpets are nice and pre-treated with our cleaner, there are a few things I’d like to mention when it comes to using your carpet cleaner. These tips apply no matter what machine you might be using at home.
Personally, I love the Hoover SmartWash. I’ve been using it for years, and I think it does a really good job. So if you’re in the market for a new machine, definitely check this one out — I highly recommend it.
The first thing is to fill your tank with water only. This is really important because if you add soaps or anything else to the water, it can get left behind and potentially cause residue, which may make your carpets get dirty faster. Filling it with just water helps flush out all the dirt and grime stuck to the fibers, along with any leftover soap.
The second thing is to go at a nice, slow pace with your machine — kind of like you’re vacuuming. The key here is to let the machine do the work.
On the first pass, I make sure to rinse out not only all the dirt and grime but also the soap.
On the second pass, I switch to the vacuum-only function and extract as much moisture as possible from the carpet. That’s one of the reasons I absolutely love the Hoover SmartWash — it has a “dry only” button. This not only helps remove more moisture but also allows the carpets to dry faster.
If you have an area that’s really dirty and didn’t clean up well on the first pass, I recommend repeating the process. Sometimes, there can still be dirt and grime left behind, so you may need to clean it multiple times.
Drying the Carpet
Now that the carpets are nice and clean, the final step is to get them dry as quickly as possible.
To do this, you can just use a few fans, or if your room has a ceiling fan, make sure to turn that on as well. You also want to make sure the home temperature is around 70°F. You can either turn on the AC or the heat or maybe even open some windows — but the goal is to keep it at 70°, as this is the ideal temperature for moisture to evaporate and for your carpets to dry faster.
Carpet Grooming
To really level up my clean, I love using a Grandi Groomer. This rake stands the carpet pile up nice and straight, which not only helps it dry faster but also makes the carpet look almost brand new. Plus, once you start using it, it’s so satisfying — before you know it, you’ll be raking your whole house.
Protect Your Furniture
If you move furniture around to clean underneath and then put it back in place, make sure to protect the legs if they’re made of wood or metal. Wood can transfer its stain to the carpet, causing permanent marks, and metal can rust. I like to use cling wrap or Saran Wrap — just wrap it around the leg and leave it on until the carpet is dry.
And there you have it — now you know how to clean your carpets like a pro!
