How You Should Deep Clean Your Carpets

During an end-of-tenancy clean or a move-in clean, it is important to deep clean the carpets to remove all the dirt and grime that has accumulated over time. This is especially important if you have pets or children, as they can leave behind oils, fleas and dander.
 
You may have a go doing this by yourself or use the service of a professional carpet cleaner. If you are using the services of professional cleaners for your end-of-tenancy or move-in clean, they may offer the deep cleaning of your carpets as part of the overall service.
 
Whatever option, choose the more cost-effective way to get your carpets clean.  Here we tell you all the basics about deep cleaning your carpets.
 
Tools for deep cleaning your carpets:
The tools you'll need include:

• Cleaning solution
• A coarse brush
• Rags and sponges for rinsing and applying the cleaning solution.
• A carpet shampooer or a steam cleaner if you have one.
• Stain remover
• Ammonia and vinegar instead of harsh chemicals

 
How to deep clean a carpet:

1. Vacuum the carpet to remove surface dirt and debris. Use your hand or an attachment on your vacuum cleaner to get deep into the pile of your carpets.
2. Mix your solution, either soap and water or a cleaning solution bought from a hardware store, in an empty bucket. Fill it up only about halfway with clean water.
3. Use a coarse brush to loosen up and remove dirt from the carpet's fibres. Work in 1-ft by 1-ft sections, going over each area several times at different angles until you're satisfied that it's as clean as possible. Rinse out your brushes with clean water as you go along. You can use a carpet rake if you find that more effective than a brush.
4. If you're using soap and water, use the same bucket you used to mix your solution in. Wet the carpet with clean water first, then pour on enough of your soapy mixture to cover it completely. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before damp-vacuuming it up.
5. Mix a new batch of the same soap and water solution, and use your rinsed-out brush to scrub the carpet again just as you did before. Rinse out your brush once more.
6. If you're using an enzyme cleaner, work from the top of the room down to keep from spreading the cleaner around as you go.
7. Use a wet-dry vacuum to suck up the excess moisture from your carpet, then let it air dry for at least 24 hours before walking on it again or putting furniture back in place.
8. If you have a stain leftover, treat it with a professional cleaner immediately and keep a close eye on it for the next few days. Stain-resistant carpeting can still stain, especially if you have pets or small children who could leave behind traces of urine or food that attract dirt.
9. If your carpet smells musty after being cleaned, sprinkle baking soda over it before you vacuum it up, then vacuum again once the baking soda has settled into the fibres.
10. A professional carpet cleaner (and there are lots of them out there) will usually use an extraction method for cleaning carpets, which means they suck up water with a powerful vacuum instead of just pushing it around. This is the most effective way to clean the deep dirt that hides beneath your carpet's surface.
11. In most cases, a professional carpet cleaning job will follow the basic three-step process of pretreating, cleaning and then post-treating with a fabric protector to repel dirt from getting ground into your carpet.
12. Professional carpet cleaners have special chemicals they use for removing tough stains like red wine, pet urine and oil-based paint. Some of these chemicals are slightly acidic, and they need to be diluted before you attempt to use them at home.
13. Always take precautionary measures when using chemical-based cleaners. Make sure to follow the instructions on the label and never mix different types of carpet cleaning chemicals - always use them in exactly the way they are intended, one after another.

 
What is the difference between shampooing and deep cleaning carpets?
Shampooing is a process that requires the use of water and soap, but no harsh chemicals. Deep cleaning involves using chemical-based cleaners for removing dirt, stains and other types of grime from your carpets.
 
How often should I deep clean my carpets?
 
It depends on how dirty they are and what type of activity takes place in the household. It is advisable to deep clean your carpets every 1-2 years, depending on how frequently they get dirty and whether you have pets and kids at home.
 
How do you clean a deeply dirty carpet?
You should prepare a solution in a 5-gallon bucket consisting of 1/3 cup dish soap, 2 cups white distilled vinegar and 3 gallons of warm water. Apply the solution to an area no bigger than 10 square feet at a time with a handheld carpet cleaning machine or scrub brush. Let the mixture sit for approximately 15 minutes then rinse it off with a wet/dry vacuum or by applying more water to that area of the carpet.
 
Repeat this process for the entire area of the carpet that needs cleaning.
 
How much would deep carpet cleaning cost?
When full-room deep carpet cleaning is required, the cost varies depending on where you live and what company you hire to do the job.
 
It can be priced by square meter, per hour/day or by the number of rooms. You could be looking at an average of £200 whichever way it is priced for deep cleaning carpets in a standard house.
 
Why is my carpet still dirty after cleaning with a steamer?
If your carpets are still dirty after cleaning with a carpet steam cleaner, as is often the case if you have not cleaned the area properly beforehand, then there is likely to be too much dirt for the steam to break down.
 
As with any type of steam cleaning, it can only go so far and this then requires a follow-up shampoo or deep clean with a wet cleaning product.
 
However, it is not only the dirt in the carpet that has to be removed, but also any bacteria and microbes left behind must be dealt with otherwise you will be breathing in these unpleasant germs every time you sit on your sofa. Most steam cleaners used for carpets are not powerful enough to reach deep down inside the fibres, so you need to give your carpets a thorough shampooing using detergent and water.
 
By doing this you will be able to remove any stains that have been missed out on when cleaning with steam alone or any lingering germs that can make people sick.
 
What are the carpet cleaning methods?
Steam -  the most common way to clean carpets, since it does not matter if the carpet is delicate or synthetic. Only you should be looking for a machine that comes with various attachments so your carpet will be thoroughly cleaned no matter what its thickness or material. 

Dry foam /Dry Clean- This method can be used on all types of fibre and has many advantages over steam cleaning. The carpets dry fast and they do not become waterlogged as can happen with the steam method. In addition, it works well for individuals that have allergies as there is no chemical residue left behind on the carpet.

Dry powder - This really only works if you have white carpet as this process does involve bleaching, however many people love the outcome as there is no residue left behind and it works well on those tough stains like coffee, tea and vomit.

Shampoo - This method uses a shampoo with some form of degreaser to clean the carpet. The biggest benefit is that you can mix your own solution depending on what type of stains are on the carpet, plus there is no heavy residue left behind.