How to wash the carpets at home by yourself

How to wash the carpets at home by yourself

The proper cleaning and washing of our carpets are important and necessary points of attention as our carpets are "magnets" for dust, dirt and a wide variety of germs that can pose a risk to our health.

You can learn more in our related article on how dangerous a dirty carpet can be for our health.

In case you do not wish to send your carpets to a professional cleaning company, which will relieve you of the time and effort that this task requires, we are here to give you all the necessary information you need to wash your carpets by yourself properly.

Why is it necessary to wash our carpets at least once a year?

Firstly, as we all know, carpets are naturally designed to retain heat and everything that exists and hangs in the surrounding space including dust mites, germs and odors in our home.

The frequent sweeping and cleaning of carpets extends their lifespan, while at the same time contributing to the good hygiene of our space and therefore to our health. However, while these practices are a successful way to remove germs and dust, they do not eliminate them completely and effectively.

A complete, professional cleaning requires carpet washing, which should be done at least once a year and preferably in the spring or summer.

Find out which is the right season to clean your carpet.

In order to have the best result, it should be done by qualified professionals following the right steps to make it effective.

The Multiclean team, with more than 45 years of experience in carpet cleaning and thousands of satisfied customers, guarantees you a complete process of washing and cleaning your carpets with a guaranteed result that makes them look like new.

For more information, you can call us or contact us via our contact page.

Steps to properly wash carpets at home

1. Read your carpet's information label

Before even starting the washing process, you should get informed about the special indications and possible contraindications for cleaning, that are on the label of your carpet and which are different for each carpet.

Thus, after you have been informed by the information given by your carpet manufacturer, you will minimize the chances of error and wear and tear of your carpet or rug.

You should pay special attention to your handmade rugs, as damage can be irreversible.

In this case, we recommend that you entrust them to our team, so that we can take care of the proper cleaning of the handmade carpet without damaging its quality or color.

2. Vacuum your carpet first

Even if your carpet has been cleaned the day before, it is important to vacuum it again to remove anything that is on its surface.

Dust and local stains should be removed as much as possible.

Adjust the vacuum cleaner to the appropriate height based on the type of your carpet to get the strongest suction and if you have a pet at home, use a special brush with rubber tips that will "pick up" the hairs stuck to the carpet.

Don't forget to read our related article on how to clean your carpet when you have a pet.

3. Spot cleaning with baking soda

Carpet cleaning with baking soda is a traditional method of cleaning stains and is effective.

In case you find any sign of stain on your carpet, you can sprinkle some baking soda on it and the longer you leave it on the stain the better job it will do. You can still remove it the next day using the vacuum cleaner or a wet cloth.

As you will find, the stain will be significantly reduced or completely gone, while any unpleasant odor that may have been there before will have been absorbed.

It is important to mention at this point that the sooner we act on the "fresh" stain, the easier it is to eliminate it.

4. Special cleaning mixture for certain types of carpets

Distressed and frequently used carpets need special treatment, which is offered by special carpet cleaning crews, and which in this case we strongly recommend.

However, if you are not willing to leave this job to the professionals, you can create a cleaning mixture at home from specific materials, having first made sure that you have consulted the instructions given by the manufacturer of each carpet and which are indicated on its special label.

We suggest using a minimum amount of dish detergent, 2 tbsp. white vinegar and a little warm water to create the cleaning mixture for your carpet.

You can put the mixture in a spray can and go over your carpet with it, with light sprays and light wiping of its surface. This process requires caution, as the solution should not fall in large quantities on the carpet nor should it stay for a long time, because it may spoil its color.

Finally, when drying the carpet, it is best not to place your carpet directly in the sun.

Read tips for carpet cleaning during COVID-19.

5. How to store the carpet

For the safe storage of your carpet, be sure to spray it with an anti-rust spray, place it in a special package of mothballs, or put bags of dried flowers in several places of the carpet if you prefer a more natural solution.

The way we store our rugs is by rolling them up rather than folding them so that the base doesn't get wrinkled or damaged.

Seal with paper tape and then put it in a bag.

Finally, when storing it, place it horizontally and not vertically so that the edges of the rug do not fray.

Is cleaning carpets at home effective?

By following the steps we've outlined above (and the tips in our other carpet cleaning articles) for washing carpets at home, you can tackle many stains and, depending on use, keep them relatively clean until their next professional cleaning.

In any case, however, you cannot be absolutely sure of how deep your carpet has been cleaned and whether the germs have disappeared. Especially for the cases where there are children in the house, the regular cleaning of the carpets is imperative.

Read more about how to keep your carpets clean when you live with children.

In addition, this process requires time and effort that many cannot spare.

For immediate and comprehensive cleaning solutions, it is recommended to deliver your carpets to our carpet cleaners.

Multiclean frees you from worrying about your carpets and guarantees you a reliable, safe result with specialized deep cleaning.

Whether it is machine-made or hand-made carpet washing, we make sure that the correct procedure is done to protect the carpet and that it does not fade or wear out and always with the right materials.

For any information you need about cleaning your carpets, you can call us through the details on the contact page.