You may have heard the dirty secret about carpets: they’re the perfect trap for polluters and irritants like pet hair, pollen, dust, dead skin, and more. Does that mean that you need to rip up all of your carpets to keep your house clean? Not at all.
Instead, you may want to put a little more emphasis on keeping your carpet clean. If your carpets are looking dingy or you’re noticing signs of poor indoor air quality, it may be time for a deep clean.
As cleaning experts, we’re here to pass on our deep clean carpet DIY tips. A deep clean goes well beyond a quick pass-over with the vacuum, and you’ll want to prepare in advance.
What should you anticipate when deep cleaning your carpet? How can you ensure that the process goes smoothly? Read on for our top five tips.
Tip 1: Start By Preparing the Room and Supplies
If you want to accomplish a true deep clean for your carpet, you’re going to need a very specific tool: a steam cleaner. Chances are, you don’t own one already, and that’s okay! Since you won’t be deep cleaning your carpets more than once or twice a year, it’s cost-effective to rent one.
(Not sure where to rent a steam cleaner? Home project stores like Lowes will usually offer rentals for these types of cleaning tools.)
You’ll also need to grab your vacuum and your preferred carpet cleaning solution, as well as a few clean rags. Then, remove all furniture from the room you intend to deep clean. Remember, this is a time-consuming project, so don’t try to rush through it!
Tip 2: Test for Colorfastness Before Proceeding
Most newly manufactured carpeting is “colorfast.” This means that the textiles and dyes are treated to keep the dyes from running when wet. However, this isn’t always the case, so testing for colorfastness is a good idea.
Pick a spot that isn’t usually visible. That means a small area of the carpet that’s located under a piece of furniture or in a closet.
Then, spray your cleaning solution onto a clean rag or paper towel and place it, pressing gently, on your selected section of carpeting. After about one hour, remove the rag or paper towel. Using a clean white rag, dab the treated area.
If no dye comes up on your cloth, your carpet should be colorfast and ready to deep clean.
Tip 3: Vacuum and Spot Clean First
Before you break out the steam cleaner, you’ll want to take a few additional steps. First, vacuum the carpet to remove things like dust and pet hair. By getting rid of these irritants, you allow the cleaner better access to deeply penetrate the fibers of your carpet.
Once you’ve finished vacuuming, spot clean any noticeable stains or areas of discoloration. If you haven’t spot cleaned your carpet before, don’t sweat it!
Follow the specific instructions on your cleaning solution. Ultimately, it’s not unlike treating a stain on a piece of clothing before throwing it in the wash. The initial spot cleaning may not lift the stain completely, but it will penetrate the stain before you begin steam cleaning.
Tip 4: Steam Clean the Right Way
The most important thing about using a steam cleaner is that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you know what type of carpet cleaning solution to use, how much to use, and where to deposit it. If your steam cleaner has any additional functions, find out what they are and if they’re useful to you–usually, the basic setting is enough.
Once you start steam cleaning, make sure that you don’t box yourself into a corner! Start in the corner furthest from the door or edge of the carpet and work backward. The goal is to avoid stepping on wet carpet.
How can you tell when you’ve steam cleaned enough? You want the return water to come back clear. That means that you will need to empty the steam cleaner and repeat the process until this happens.
Tip 5: Not a Fan of Chemical Cleaners? Make a Deep Clean Carpet DIY Solution
Not everyone likes to use chemical cleaners on their floors. You may find that you’re sensitive to the ingredients or to the smell. Fortunately, you may be able to use another solution.
Mix half a cup of vinegar per gallon of water used in the steam cleaner. While vinegar has an initial smell that is a bit harsh, it is actually an odor neutralizer. Once it dries, the vinegar smell will dissipate and take with it any other funky smells your carpet was storing!
Bonus Tip: We Can Deep Clean Your Boise, ID Carpets For You
The reality is that deep cleaning your carpet is a long process. If you plan to tackle it yourself, be prepared to spend most of your weekend making sure that each step is completed properly.
If you don’t want to spend your weekend on a deep clean carpet DIY job–and we don’t blame you!–your best bet is to work with a cleaning company. We provide a variety of cleaning services to Boise homeowners and business owners, including deep cleaning services. Let us take care of that deep clean for you!
Schedule Your Deep Cleaning or House Cleaning Today
A deep clean carpet DIY can be very rewarding. However, it takes a little bit of know-how, the proper tools, and a good amount of time. If you’re considering an alternative, you’ve come to the right place.
Scrub ‘N Bubbles Cleaning is here to take care of any cleaning needs you may have. To find out more or schedule a cleaning appointment, contact us today. You can also request a free quote to help you make an informed decision.
