Cleaning Carpets: The Best Home Remedies & Tips

We’ve already touched briefly on the topic of stains on carpets. But not all stains are the same—and certainly not all carpets are the same. It certainly seems easiest to reach for harsh chemicals when dealing with a stain. Unfortunately, however, this method cannot be recommended without reservation: Depending on the material and the type of stain, you may end up doing more harm than good. Many cleaners contain chemical additives that aren’t good for the carpet at all.

Table of Contents

• Should I clean the carpet myself or have it professionally cleaned?
• Cleaning Carpets: Should You Use a Carpet Cleaner or Home Remedies?
• Cleaning Carpets Based on the Material
• Useful Home Remedies
• Removing Stains and Footprints
• Removing Grease Stains
• Removing Coffee Stains
• Removing Blood Stains
• Removing Candle Wax
• Carpet Treatment

When it comes to carpet cleaning, the first question that arises is whether to clean the carpet yourself or have it professionally cleaned. The decision depends on various factors, such as material, cost, and time. Professional cleaning can remove stubborn stains and odors, invisible dirt, and, for example, dust mites. Professional cleaning is also recommended for particularly valuable and delicate carpets. The cost depends on the carpet’s material and size, and ranges from approximately 10 to 35^{euros per square meter}. However, if the carpet is a standard one with only minor stains, you can safely use household remedies or carpet cleaners from the supermarket.

If you decide to clean the carpet yourself, you’ll immediately face the next question: should you use a carpet cleaner or stick with common household remedies? Even though special carpet cleaners tend to be the safer bet when it comes to stain removal, household remedies have the major advantage of not containing chemicals. If the level of soiling and the carpet’s material allow it, you should definitely try household remedies first to help protect the environment and save both money and time. We’ll show you below how to successfully clean your carpet using household remedies. If you do decide to use a carpet cleaner first, you’ll need to choose either an alkaline or an acidic cleaner, depending on the carpet’s material. Wool carpets and carpets made from other animal fibers require an acidic cleaner, whereas cotton and sisal carpets require an alkaline one.

Many cleaners contain chemical additives that aren’t good for your carpet at all. That’s why it’s important to find out two things before using them: First, you should definitely know what material the carpet is made of. You can often find this information on a label on the back of the carpet or on the receipt. If neither of these is available, be sure to try common household remedies first to remove the stain. This generally applies even if you know exactly what the carpet is made of. 

These handy little household tips should definitely be your first line of defense when it comes to stain removal. If they don’t work, you can always turn to chemical cleaners. In that case, it’s important that you carefully read all the information and instructions provided by the cleaner’s manufacturer. All-purpose cleaners may seem convenient, but they’re rarely suitable for high-quality carpets. They can cause unsightly color damage or damage the fibers. Even if the material and cleaner seem like a perfect match, you should first test the product on an inconspicuous spot on the carpet. As the saying goes, the devil is in the details, and it would be a shame if the stain were gone but the color in that spot had changed. Silk and wool should not be treated with cleaners containing alkalis or acids. Synthetic-fiber carpets are less delicate. In these cases, you can go ahead and use carpet shampoo.

More about carpet cleaning:

• Learn About Carpet Materials
• Cleaning Methods
• Carpet Disinfection

Nevertheless, my recommendation remains the same: try the home remedies first.

• Baking powder

  Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and spray hot water on it using a spray bottle. It has to be really hot to open up the fabric’s pores. Then let it sit for a few hours and repeat the process if necessary. You can also add a splash of vinegar to the hot water at this point. Now let the mixture sit for a longer period of time, and then you should be able to vacuum it all up.

• Salt

  Salt actually helps remove red wine stains. However, the stain must be very fresh. If the salt turns red, vacuum it up and repeat the process until the stain is gone. It’s important to vacuum from the center outward so you don’t spread the stain.

• White wine, mineral water, or vinegar water

  You can tackle dried red wine stains with white wine, mineral water, or vinegar water. The carbonation breaks down the stain and loosens the fabric. To do this, simply dampen the affected area with sparkling water and blot it dry with a clean cloth. If you act quickly, you can use this first-aid method for almost any minor mishap. But please test it first on an inconspicuous spot to make sure the carpet doesn’t lose its color during this process. By the way: Red wine stains on carpets can also be removed with other household remedies, such as glass cleaner or gall soap.

• Shaving foam

  Another miracle cure for carpet cleaning is shaving cream. It works similarly to carpet cleaner, but is much cheaper. When buying it, however, make sure it contains no dyes or other additives like menthol. To remove a stain, spray a little shaving cream on the spot and gently rub it in. This should create light streaks of foam. If your carpet has a long pile, like a Flokati, work the foam into the fibers, much like you would with shampoo when washing your hair. Depending on how stubborn the stain is, let it sit for up to 24 hours, then brush it out with a soft brush and vacuum up the residue. 
  
  You can also use shaving cream for general carpet cleaning. Simply spray it onto the carpet and gently work it in with a soft brush or cloth. After letting it sit for about two hours, vacuum the carpet as usual—you’ll be amazed at how great it looks afterward.

  
  

To clean dirt stains and footprints from your carpet, use baking soda. You can either sprinkle the powder on the carpet and work it into a lather with water, or apply it as a paste.

If you want to use baking soda to remove grease stains, that’s not such a good idea. You’re better off using dish soap or liquid soap. Sometimes you’ll also find tips online under the heading: “Cleaning carpets with baking soda.” You should know that baking soda is a main ingredient in baking powder. The effect is therefore almost the same as if you were cleaning the carpet with baking powder. There are countless types of stains on carpets.

Another question that comes up time and again is: How do I remove coffee stains? For fresh stains, apply a little water and then blot the area with paper towels until the stain is gone. Older coffee stains can be removed with a colorless glass cleaner. In that case, the carpet can also be treated with gall soap, alcohol, or rubbing alcohol.

Of course, home remedies can also remove both fresh and older bloodstains. Dried blood, for example, can be removed with a paste made of salt and lemon juice. Let the paste sit for about an hour, then blot it up with paper towels. Afterward, spray the area with clean, cold water and blot that up with paper towels as well. If you have fresh blood stains on your carpet, spray them immediately with cold water. Then dab the area with a paper towel. Repeat this until the stain is gone. If that doesn’t work, it’s a good idea to add a little laundry detergent to the water you’re spraying.

If you want to remove candle wax from a carpet, in addition to the method using blotting paper mentioned in the previous post, you can remove the wax residue with mineral spirits. This product should always be used with caution, as it can leave marks on delicate carpets and is also considered an environmentally harmful substance. Therefore, you should only resort to mineral spirits if all other methods for removing stains from the carpet have failed.

I’d like to share one last all-purpose tip with you here to make your carpet look brighter and more beautiful overall. It’s called: cleaning your carpet with vinegar water. This is more of an all-around treatment that lets you make your own eco-friendly carpet cleaner. Take equal parts cornstarch and baking soda, mix them together, and spread the mixture generously over the carpet. Next, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of one part vinegar and three parts water. Spray this mixture onto the layer of powder and then gently work it in with a soft brush (don’t scrub too hard). Once everything has dried, vacuum it up as usual. Your carpet will then be clean again and restored to its former beauty. In a future post, we’ ll share more tips on carpet care .

Do you have pets and are wondering which carpets are easiest to maintain and clean? We have tips on the best carpets for pets.