At-Home Carpet Steam Cleaning Remedies

If you have kids or pets you’re probably all-too familiar with scrubbing small stains. And if you’re anything like us, you’ve probably spilled drops of coffee or wine in the course of telling an all-too-enthusiastic story. While we’re all familiar with cleaning up every day messes, we often overlook steam cleaning carpets- An important part of ensuring your home is both dirt and germ-free.

Home carpets and rugs benefit from a deeper clean than vacuuming, as an annual steam clean helps prolong the life of your carpet and keeps your home looking and smelling fresh.

It’s always easier to let the professionals deal with the cleaning, but if you prefer to steam clean your home carpets yourself, we have a few tips to help DIY with your deep clean.

Steam cleaning your carpets

You can rent or purchase carpet steam cleaners. Make sure you choose a steam cleaner which removes the maximum amount of water, as carpets can be damaged if they remain wet for too long. For example, the carpet could separate from its backing.

• Completely clear the floor, removing furniture out of the room if possible.
• Fill the steam cleaner with hot water and cleaning solution. Do not use too much! Always read the directions.
• Start cleaning your carpet, working from the area furthest from the door.
• Go over each area several times to ensure you get rid of as much of the cleaning solution as possible. The cleaning solution works by attracting dirt. But if any residue is left on your carpet, it will continue to attract dirt and your carpet will get dirty again very quickly.
• Rinse with clean water.
• Now your carpet must dry. Use fans and air conditioning if possible, and if you have a humidifier, switch it on!

Recipes for carpet cleaning solutions

Never mix ammonia with bleach as a toxic gas can be created. Always read the ingredients before you mix any cleaning solutions. For example, glass cleaner usually contains ammonia, which most people wouldn’t expect.

Here are some carpet cleaning remedies you can create at home. You could use these in the steam cleaner, or apply it to your carpet with a sponge mop or rag. If you do this, ensure your carpet is fully dry before vacuuming. Never vacuum a wet or damp carpet.

Solution 1 (contains ammonia)

• ½ cup all-purpose household cleaner. Make sure it does not contain bleach.
• ½ cup fabric softener
• 1 cup ammonia
• 1 gallon warm water

Solution 2 (no ammonia)

• 1 part dry laundry detergent
• 10 parts warm water

Note: Please test any home cleaning solution on an inconspicuous part of your carpet before using it!