Lint rollers are an alternative to using packaging tape. Break the carpet into sections to make cleaning less daunting and so you can keep track of where you’ve already cleaned. Don’t wear dirty clothes or shoes to clean since you’ll be on the ground, but also keep in mind that you may end up dirty after cleaning.
Pick a brush that has stiffer bristles for short fiber carpets. Soft synthetic bristles won’t have enough tension or power to push dirt off. A brush with metal teeth is good for faux fur rugs or very fine carpets. Be careful though as it may damage and separate a delicate weave. Some brushes come on the end of long broom-like handles so you don’t have to clean on your knees.
Blot stains, don’t rub them. Sometimes you just need to use scissors to trim long fibers that have stains that simply won’t come out. Hydrogen Peroxide is best for getting out bodily fluids and stains such as blood or urine. You can use commercial stain removers and cleaning products to get rid of stains. Make sure that the chemicals won’t ruin your carpet by double-checking its compatibility with your carpet material. Dab beer and wine stains with club soda poured onto a rag cloth. Scrape off gum and sticky substances with a plastic serrated knife. For grease and other difficult stains, put some dish detergent that’s designed specifically for grease in a spray bottle and spray and dab the stain until it’s gone. [4] X Research source
For a natural home remedy instead of dish soap, combine baking soda and vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda on sections of the carpet, spray enough vinegar to make it foamy, then sop it up with paper towels.
Scrub brushes with a handle will give you better control. For large carpets, have several sponges on hand so you can change them out when one becomes too dirty to be productive. While you scrub, change out the water frequently to avoid rubbing dirty water back into your carpet.
Set up fans to blow on the carpet to speed up the drying process. Clean your carpet on dry, low-humidity days so that it will dry faster and mold won’t build up.
You can use this method to dry clean your carpets, but you may need to use a vacuum to suck up the fine powders. If you don’t want to vacuum because of the noise, wait until a better time. If you don’t have a vacuum, there still may be remnants left in your carpet since the fine powders may escape a broom or tape.
Carpet sweepers have brushes that may need to be replaced periodically when they become filthy or too run down. Carpet sweepers cannot handle the dirt capacity of a whole house, so if you’re cleaning each room you may need to clean out the bristles as you go. Empty out the sweeper regularly so you don’t spread dirt around your house instead of cleaning it.
Using a stiffer broom forces dirt out of your carpet but it does require some forceful sweeping which can double as a workout. Broom corn bristles may break off while sweeping. Simply add them to the pile of dirt you’re going to throw out. Using a broom works best for short fiber carpets or carpets with stiff bristles.
If it’s a sunny day and there is no call for rain, use a garden hose to wash any extra dirt out of the rugs. Let them air dry outside. Sunlight can fade the color in rug fibers, so be careful if you’re cleaning a delicate material.
