No matter how clean you keep it by vacuuming, your carpet is bound to get soiled over a period of time. Kids will spill something on carpets, pets will have their way with them and even guests can unwittingly step on it with muddy shoes, bringing along with them dirt, germs, and bad smells.
Depending on the type and colour of the carpet, there is a real possibility of dirt going unnoticed for a period of time. However, it is bound to show up eventually and cleaning it all together could be a huge task.
This is why most people vacuum cleans their carpets on a regular basis. However, there is nothing to worry about if you don’t own a vacuum cleaner or don’t want to rent one. Remember, people used to have carpets way before carpet cleaning machines or even vacuum cleaners were invented. In fact, carpets date back as far as the 4th century BC.
You simply have to pull a leaf from the past and with a few simple steps you can clean your carpet without the need for any expensive carpet cleaner equipment or companies.
Manual Cleaning Using Baking Soda and Detergent
Cleaning a big carpet with deep pile by hand is not unusual. It is probably uncommon because of growing technology dependence. However, you can pretty much have a squeaky clean carpet without spending a lot of money on expensive equipment or renting a machine.
All you need is baking soda, table salt and a mix of water and readily available detergent. Also, make sure you have a spray bottle, an old towel and a scrubbing brush by your side before you begin the process.
The process is simple.
- Begin by mixing detergent and water in the spray bottle. Now sprinkle the carpet with baking soda and table salt followed by a mix of detergent and water. Let the soap water sink into the carpet for a few minutes.
- Scrub the area to remove any stains and dirt. You will see that the debris comes out of the carpet for you to pick up. You can scrub off hair and dirt from the carpet using the brush.
- You can press the towel on the area where you have put the soap water to clean it completely.
- Repeat the process for the entire carpet.
Broom and Dustpan for the Go
No matter how old fashioned they are, there is no denying that a broom and dustpan are the original cleaning superheroes. They are readily available, cheap and easy to use. There is no electricity bill nor is a big space needed to store them.
If you are using this method, you will need to manually pick up hair and small rugs added to the carpet. After that, you need to sweep the entire carpet area in one direction using the broom.
Keep collecting the dirt using the dustpan and you are good to go.
Wash Your Carpet
Dry cleaning a carpet is effective most of the time. However, sometimes the dirt accumulation is so much that you would need to wet wash it.
Do make sure you check the instructions on your carpet before washing it. Certain carpets can’t be washed and you may end up spoiling them forever.
Follow these steps to wash your carpet.
- Begin by picking any visible particles sticking to the carpet such as hair.
- If there are any spots, use baking soda and soap and detergent to remove stains from the carpet so that there is no unnecessary spillage.
- Once you have taken care of visible stains and spots, you can submerge the carpet in a big tub with store-bought cleaner and water. You can also use detergent in case you don’t find carpet cleaner liquid.
- Scrub it gently to remove dirt and dry it overnight.
Carpet Shampoo to the Rescue
Carpet shampoo is a great alternative to cleaning carpets if you don’t want to use baking soda. Simply scrub carpet shampoo on visibly stained areas and let it dry.
End by dry dusting the carpet and you are good to go!
How Often Should You Clean Your Carpet Manually
Dry dusting your carpet once every week is a good practice to keep it clean. This would make sure any bigger particles do not settle on the carpet.
For carpets that are not cleaned regularly, you need to give them a thorough wash once every six months. If it seems too much, you can even opt for professional cleaning services as opposed to renting a steam or vacuum cleaner.
Cleaning carpets manually is not an impossible task. However, there are a few steps that can make the task easier for you, such as dealing with stains immediately and not letting them stay on. Enjoy your stain-free and squeaky clean carpet after following our guide.
