How to Clean Carpets Without a Machine

Everyone knows sweeping, mopping and vacuuming are standard chores that should be done on a regular basis. However, these tasks only get rid of the dust and debris on the surface. Over time, allergens like pollen, dead skin cells and dirt become embedded in your carpet’s fibers — and vacuuming isn’t enough to clean it.

You should clean your carpets and rugs at least once every six months, but this can be difficult if you don’t own a carpet cleaner. This article will show you how to clean your carpet without a carpet machine, so your home can sparkle and shine from the baseboards to the crown moldings.

Here is everything you need to know for cleaning a carpet without a steam cleaner or shampooer.

Benefits of Cleaning Carpets

A great vacuum will take care of surface-level dirt and make your rugs look and feel refreshed. However, the benefits of cleaning your carpets extend further than the appearance of your home. There are several significant advantages to washing your carpets, including:

Ridding Your Home of Harmful Pollutants

Allergens and pollutants nested deep in your rugs and carpets can cause serious health issues. Along with allergic reactions, dust, dandruff and pet hair can lead to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Cleaning your carpets will improve the overall quality of the air in your home.

Extending the Life of Your Carpet

With heavy foot traffic and long-term use, your carpets will slowly show signs of wear and tear. Over time, you don’t realize that your carpet’s color starts to fade and lose its plush feel. Washing your carpet will extend its life, refreshing the fibers with new life so they will look and feel like new.

Removing Lingering Odors

The prolonged exposure to mud, pet dandruff, spills and vapors from cigarettes leads to unpleasant smells in your home you may not even realize have developed. Learning how to clean a smelly carpet without a machine will revive your space and let you experience a truly pristine home.

Spot Cleaning Carpets Without a Machine

Cleaning dirty carpets without a machine may seem like a tall task. Before you worry about tackling an entire rug, start with one small step — spot cleaning.

1. Vinegar and Water

If a stain has been around for a long time, you can try addressing it with a homemade solution. Just fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water.

Spray the cleanser directly on the stain until soaked, then use a soft cloth to blot the blemish. Continue blotting until the stain lifts from the carpet. Once the spot is removed, use clean water to rinse the area and remove any suds.

2. Recent Spills

Spills can happen at any moment. While it’s normal to experience frustration at your own clumsiness, there’s no need to panic! With just a soft washcloth and some club soda, you can remove most stains from recent spills with ease.

First, blot the stain with an absorbent washcloth. Be sure to blot gently and not rub the stain into the carpet fibers. You can even use paper towels and get the same effect. When you have removed as much of the stain as you can, rinse the area with club soda and continue blotting until the stain is completely gone.

3. Tough Water-Soluble Stains

For stubborn stains, like coffee, chocolate and wine, you’ll need a stronger solution. Create a cleaning mixture with one part ammonia and one part water. Blot and rinse, as detailed in the steps above. Always be careful when using ammonia. This substance can irritate your skin, lungs and eyes. Never mix ammonia with other chemicals, and always be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.

Whole-Room Carpet Cleaning Without a Machine

If you’re wondering how you can clean your carpet without a shampooer, we’ve got you covered. This particular chore may seem overwhelming, especially if you don’t have a way to vacuum the water from the rug so it can fully dry. However, to get a clean carpet without a machine, you just need some old-fashioned elbow grease and water. It’s easier than you think!

With this step-by-step guide, you’ll find that learning how to shampoo carpet without a machine is so simple you’ll be able to clean every room in the house in one day.

What You’ll Need

You’ll first need to gather some ingredients to aid in the cleaning process. You can clean a smelly carpet without a machine using:

• Laundry detergent
• Warm water
• Baking soda
• Table salt
• A spray bottle
• Soft cleaning rags
• A bristle brush

How to Clean Your Carpet Without a Carpet Cleaner

Using the supplies listed above, give your carpet the deep clean it deserves. By following these steps, you can get a fresh carpet that embodies its former glory:

1. Before you start spot cleaning, you have to clear the carpet and vacuum the area first. Otherwise, you’ll just push around old dirt and crumbs.
2. Combine 1/8 teaspoon of laundry detergent with warm water in a spray bottle. Gently stir the soap and water to completely dissolve the detergent.
3. Sprinkle a light layer of baking soda on the carpet. Then, add a layer of salt on top of the baking soda. You don’t have to cover the entire carpet with baking soda or salt. The particles will spread around as you clean the rug.
4. Spray the detergent mixture over the carpet, then let the water sit with the salt and baking soda for five to seven minutes.
5. Use a bristle brush to lightly scrub the carpet in one direction. This lets the dirt, hair and other debris gather on one end, rather than spreading it around the rug. Remove the debris with a paper towel or cloth.
6. Position the brush so that it’s slightly angled from where you first brushed and brush the solution into the carpet again.
7. Lay your wash rags on top of the carpet so they can soak up the excess water. Place heavy objects on top of the rags to speed up the process.
8. When it’s almost dry, use a spray bottle filled with clean water to rinse the carpet. Lay out more towels to dry the rug, and wait until the fabric is completely dry before walking on it.

Congratulations, you’ve successfully learned how to clean rugs without a machine! It really is that simple.

Contact Rent Maids for Help With Your Home Cleaning

When you’re tied up with a busy schedule, the last thing you want to worry about is deep cleaning your home. Learning how to clean dirty carpets without a machine might not be hard, but it’s time you could spend doing things you enjoy. With Rent Maids, you can enjoy the feel of a truly sparkling clean home without needing to bring out the chemicals and elbow grease.

Proudly serving the DMV Area, Rent Maids is the only local cleaning service to offer instant personalized quotes and unmatched customer care.

Contact Rent Maid today for a clean home tomorrow!