How to clean a carpet at home without a vacuum cleaner: how to bleach a light shaggy or woolen carpet

The carpet is one of the most important decorative elements of any room, but, unfortunately, sometimes it is also the dirtiest. All the dust, dirt, hair and pet fur end up on the carpet the most, creating terrible stains that are very difficult to remove. Calling specialists or taking the rug to the dry cleaner is extremely expensive. Our article with photos and videos will help you learn how to clean a carpet at home quickly and effectively.

Tip : Before using any method, test the product on a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet.

How to wash a rug at home in the bathroom

Washing a soft coating made of viscose or any other texture is easy only in words, but when you get down to business, everything becomes much more difficult. Without proper knowledge about the material and quality, you can easily and irrevocably ruin a thing, and buying a new rug is much more expensive than using the services of specialists. It is not possible to completely wash a large linen, because you cannot leave it wet for a long time, but small rugs can be completely or partially cleaned in the bathroom.

You can clean the carpet using special products designed for cleaning carpets: powdered and liquid detergents. The most popular of them: Amway, Vanish, Karcher. How to do it:

We first clean the carpet from dust and dirt using a vacuum cleaner or a regular broom.
Spray with water completely or partially and rub in the selected product.
Next, thoroughly rinse off any remaining debris and rinse thoroughly with detergent.
After washing, hang the rug in a ventilated room or on the balcony, but not in direct sunlight.

How to clean if you don’t want to bother with a brush

For those who do not want to spoil their manicure or simply try not to come into contact with detergents, you can use the help of household appliances.

Dry cleaning with a regular vacuum cleaner

A household appliance is often used for surface cleaning of carpets from debris, crumbs and dust. You just need to vacuum the carpet, and then under it. But, unfortunately, it is not able to cope with stains, especially very deep ones.

Washing vacuum cleaner and shampoo

Modern vacuum cleaners with a wet cleaning function are a real assistant to housewives. They are a pleasure to use:

the cleaning solution is poured into a special bowl;
a suitable nozzle is selected;
Use gentle and smooth movements to clean the surface of the floor covering.

The only negative is that the device cannot be used often, since washing has a negative effect on the carpet, causing the product to deteriorate.

Steam generator

A steam generator will help you quickly get rid of greasy stains, dirt and other contaminants on a pile carpet. Steam cleaning is carried out on already vacuumed carpet. The cleansing effect is achieved due to the effect of high temperature, which penetrates deep into the fibers, due to which stubborn stains, as well as various bacteria, disappear.

How to clean a wool product

Wool carpets are extremely sensitive to cleaning, so it is better to constantly maintain them in good condition or contact a specialist. If you decide to take the initiative into your own hands, wash exclusively with a product that foams up and follow these instructions:

First, vacuum the carpet, several times if necessary, to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.
Following the recommendations on the detergent packaging, dilute it with cold water and beat into foam.
Carefully, without blotting or rubbing, apply foam to the pile with a brush, wait until it dries completely under natural conditions, so as not to deform the fabric.

Caution : Never use bleach or other harsh detergents on wool carpets.

This can't be done

To prevent your carpet from becoming hopelessly damaged as a result of cleaning yourself, do not allow the following:

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Do not leave the product wet for a long time. A carpet is not laundry; soaking it for a long time will not do it any good. Try to clean it as quickly as possible.
Warm, hot water is detrimental to the product! The most suitable one is at room temperature, even cold, not higher than 30 degrees.
Use cleaning brushes with a soft base, and not with a hard one, especially not metal. Do not scrub heavy dirt all over the urine - this can wear out all the lint. It is better not to skimp on foam for particularly dirty areas.
Do not skimp on detergent - do not use powders or cheap products unknown to you. Washing powder is difficult to wash out of the pile - the product will look untidy after drying, and debris will stick to it. Washing carpets is not a frequent occurrence, so you should not skimp on a product that you will use for several years.

Make sure the brush is soft

How to clean long pile flooring

Coverings that have a long pile are among the most difficult to clean, because over time, a lot of dust and dirt accumulate in the deep layers of the fabric, and some stains may not even be noticed. Especially if you have a white fluffy carpet that requires careful and constant care in the form of vacuuming and deep cleaning. Detergents or traditional methods, of which there are an incredible variety, will come to the rescue: cleaning with salt, baking soda, vinegar, ammonia, laundry soap and many others. You just need to choose the one that suits you and start cleaning. These methods will also help clean plain carpets.

Important : cleaning must be carried out in a ventilated area and then you need to leave the windows open for a while.

Before you start cleaning, you should definitely vacuum the shaggy carpet, preferably several times, to remove as much dirt and dust as possible. Only after this can you begin one of the types of cleaning.

Traditional methods: soda

Typically used to refresh color and remove unpleasant odors. How to properly clean with baking soda:

Sprinkle baking soda over the entire area or on dirty areas and leave it on the floor for half an hour.
Vacuum the carpet thoroughly, several times if necessary, until we have collected all the soda.

Vinegar and soda

Removes light stains and removes unpleasant odors. Cleaning process:

Prepare a solution in the proportion of 1 tablespoon of vinegar per 1 liter of water.
We vacuum the carpet and spray it with a spray bottle, which should react with the remaining soda.
We clean the lint with a brush and wait until the fabric is completely dry.
Let's vacuum again.

Ammonia

To clean a carpet with this product, you need:

First, prepare a solution of 5 liters of water, 3 tablespoons of any detergent and 1 tablespoon of ammonia, stir thoroughly.
Apply the mixture lightly, without blotting too hard, onto the carpet using a soft brush.
Remove the residue first with a slightly damp and then a dry cloth.
After cleaning, you need to hang the rug in a well-ventilated area or on the balcony. If there are very wet places, they should be dried with a hairdryer.

This method answers the question of how to clean a carpet without a vacuum cleaner if you need to clean it from stains and remove an unpleasant odor.

Starch

It helps to remove dirt and dust more thoroughly than with regular cleaning. Sprinkle the powder onto the carpet and leave for half an hour, sweep with a brush and vacuum thoroughly. This will not only clean the carpet, but also get rid of the unpleasant odor.

Advice : you should not use starch on dark carpets, as after using it, white marks and streaks may remain on the pile.

Getting rid of different types of stains

Not all stains are easy to remove. There is a specific cleaning product for each type of stain.

Coffee and wine

Glycerin is used to remove such stains. It is applied to the dirty area and left on the carpet for 2 hours. After this, the substance must be washed off the pile with a soap solution.

Blood and urine

To get rid of such stains, you need to make a soap solution. You need to moisten a cloth in it and apply it to the stain. After 30 minutes, this area is washed under running water. Synthetic products can be treated with alcohol. It is applied to a sponge, which is used to wipe the stain. After cleaning, the treated area is rinsed with water.

Chewing gum and plasticine

It will be easier to remove them if you first freeze them with a piece of ice.

Wax and paraffin

It is easy to clean a wool carpet at home from drops of wax and paraffin: you just need to wait until it hardens and then scrape it off. These substances may leave a greasy stain that also needs to be cleaned.

How to tidy up a white shag carpet

Fluffy white carpets look simply royal, but after a couple of months not a trace of their whiteness may remain. Before cleaning, be sure to vacuum the rug and remove dirt and dust with a broom. Conventional products are of little use, as they remove dirt but do not remove yellowness. The best means to return the snow-white color: soda, vinegar, salt and household chemicals.

Tip : the safest product to clean a light-colored carpet is household chemicals and it is quite easy to use - just follow the instructions on the label.

Clean with food powder

Cleaning a white carpet consists of the following steps:

Let's prepare the solution: to do this, mix a liter of cool water and a tablespoon of soda, pour it into a spray bottle and shake thoroughly.
Spray the solution evenly over the entire surface of the carpet and leave for half an hour until it takes effect.
When the fabric dries, clean the surface with a stiff brush or beat it outside.

Effective remedies: sodium bicarbonate and vinegar

This product not only does an excellent job of cleaning the carpet, but also removes gray plaque. How to clean:

Make a solution from a liter of water, a teaspoon of vinegar and the same amount of soda (sodium bicarbonate), stir.
Using a brush, apply to the surface of the carpet.
Wait for it to dry completely and remove the residue with a brush or vacuum cleaner.

Clean with salt

To clean the carpet using this product, it is recommended to choose “Extra” salt. Finely ground particles will absorb dirt more thoroughly:

Using a spray bottle, moisten the carpet with clean water.
Sprinkle generously with salt and leave for 30 minutes.
We clean with a broom or vacuum cleaner.

Tip : if you are cleaning without a vacuum cleaner, you can sweep away debris with a brush or broom.

Alternative

If you don’t want to bother with cleaning and drying the carpet, we can offer two more options: dry cleaning or washing the carpets at a car wash.

Cleaning at a car wash

There, specialists using professional equipment, using exactly the products that are suitable for your carpet, as well as following the required cleaning sequence, will return the product to its former fresh look. Drying in such institutions is one hundred percent, which powerful devices help achieve. Your only job is to bring and pick up your carpet. And, of course, pay a certain amount for the “bath procedures”.

Dry cleaning at home

How to bleach coating at home

Yellowness, which appears over time, is the main problem with white carpets. You can clean and bleach rugs using special chemicals or equally effective folk remedies and recipes:

One of them is a solution of 2 glasses of warm water, 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 cap of wool care product. Stir thoroughly and spray the solution evenly over the surface of the carpet. Finally, wipe the pile with a soft brush and vinegar water (1 tablespoon of vinegar per liter of water).
The second option is hydrogen peroxide. It is enough to add 2-3 tablespoons of liquid to 5 liters of water and stir. Using a sponge, apply to the surface of the carpet without blotting and leave to dry.

Before cleaning, be sure to clean the carpet from dust and debris using a vacuum cleaner or broom, and at the end hang it in a well-ventilated room.

Preparing the rug for cleaning

Before you clean the rug, you need to prepare it. To achieve this, several activities are carried out:

if possible, the product is hung on the street and carefully knocked out;
in apartment conditions, cleaning with a vacuum cleaner or broom is allowed, but this is done from both sides;
You can remove accumulated dust using a wet rag and stick; you need to spread the material on the surface and lightly beat it;
Particularly dirty areas need to be soaked; to do this, apply a detergent composition in advance and rub it in.

Afterwards you can proceed directly to cleaning. If you plan to use chemicals, you should protect yourself by wearing a respiratory mask and rubber gloves.

How to dry properly

You cannot leave the carpet wet for a long time, this can lead to its deformation; you need to dry the carpet as soon as possible.

Advice : if you have a long-pile or woolen carpet and it is very wet, it is better to immediately contact a specialist, since it is not possible to dry it at home.

Using dry rags, blot most of the water, place a large amount of fabric underneath and quickly dry with a hairdryer. You can also hang the carpet on the balcony, but under no circumstances in direct sunlight. You should not do this if the carpet is very wet, as it may stretch.

The most important and important condition for the “longevity” of a carpet is proper care. It is necessary to clean with a vacuum cleaner as often as possible, at least once a week. As soon as you notice a stain, you need to immediately remove it using one of the methods described above, air the carpet outside every six months, and clean it with snow in winter. Such simple steps can preserve the beauty of your carpet, and it will serve you for as long as possible.

Drying tips

How the carpet is dried determines whether a musty smell, mold, or other signs of fungus will appear in the future.

Drying outside

The best option is to dry it outside. When washing outdoors using a large amount of water, the carpet is left in a horizontal position for several hours so that most of the water is removed. Then they are hung on ropes, fences or beams.
When drying at home: it should be a well-ventilated room. You can place pieces of soft fabric under areas of the carpet that are too wet. This will improve air circulation and the fabric will absorb excess moisture.
A split system with heating mode on and directed air flows to the floor will help speed up drying.

Incomplete drying will lead to the development of fungal infections in the carpet fibers.

Advice! It is better not to walk on a carpet that is not yet dry.

Household chemicals

Manufacturers of household chemicals have provided a wide range of various products for cleaning carpets. They are easy to use and work well against stains and foreign odors.

Carpet shampoo 5+

Perhaps the best product from the budget segment. It does not cause allergies, since the composition does not contain fragrances or chlorine. The advantages of shampoo include:

antistatic effect;
color restoration;
elimination of unpleasant odor;
removal of old and stubborn dirt.

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The liquid is suitable for washing vacuum cleaners and manual cleaning. Can be used pure or diluted.

Drop of VOX

Inexpensive, domestically produced chemicals that fight dirt, stains, and eliminate odors. Clear advantages include:

low price, the cost of a 500 ml container does not exceed 100 rubles;
after use the pile becomes softer;
removes the most difficult stains, including blood, wine, berry juice;
There is no unpleasant odor, so there is no need to ventilate the room after cleaning.

Another plus is its ease of use; the liquid needs to be diluted with water, applied to dirty areas, and lightly rubbed to form foam. After the carpet has dried, you need to vacuum it.

Help

Another budget but effective liquid designed for cleaning carpets. Excellently fights stains, dirt, and unpleasant odors. The product can be used both for hand washing and for washing vacuum cleaners.

Vanish

A popular cleaning product from a Polish manufacturer. Used in diluted form, the liquid should be applied to the rug and lightly rubbed until foam forms. It does not need rinsing, just vacuuming is enough.

Note! The use of a new cleaning composition requires testing. You need to treat a corner or other place that is hidden under the furniture with the product. This will help prevent discoloration or staining.

Choosing washing methods

The rubber mat can be washed both by hand and in a machine, but with reservations. Firstly, the rolled product must fit freely in the drum. A mat that is too long will not fit the car. Secondly, it cannot exceed the permissible loading weight.

Synthetic pile rugs can also be machine washed. To do this, choose a gentle mode with a minimum of revolutions. The water temperature should not exceed 40 °C.

If for rubber and pile mats machine washing is allowed with some reservations, then for products made of polyvinyl chloride and microfiber it is unacceptable in any case. Such materials require careful handling. They will forever lose their appearance after the first machine wash. In addition, microfiber and PVC also do not tolerate various chemicals well.