How to clean a carpet by hand
If you’re looking to freshen up a grubby carpet without using your best carpet cleaner or best steam cleaner, then you can try washing it by hand.
Before you start, use your best vacuum cleaner on the carpet to remove any loose dirt and debris. Stubborn stains can be treated with washing up liquid or white vinegar. Once dry, liberally sprinkle either bicarbonate of soda or powdered carpet cleaner over the affected area. Leave it there for upwards of 30 minutes (or overnight for particularly dirty carpets). Then vacuum again and voilà - the dirt and powder has gone.
Alternatively, using the carpet shampoo or cleaning product of your choice, prepared as directed, cover the affected area and give any particularly stubborn stains or dirt a scrub with a hard-bristled brush. Allow the carpet to dry completely before vacuuming again.
Don't be tempted to use hot water on the stain, as this could end up making matters worse, as Henry's cleaning expert Alice Lynch says: "We recommend using cold water to remove stains because it gets hold of dirt more effectively, whereas hot water may do the opposite by encouraging the stain substance to cling to the fibres more. Hot water is generally used in cleaning to kill bacteria, but it can also damage the fibres and even cause shrinkage, so we would advise avoiding this."
This was echoed by Mumsnetter WeAreTheHeroes, who recommends: “Do not use hot water - it'll fix stains. You can use original Stardrops in cold or warm water and scrub with an old-fashioned scrubbing brush. Use the foam from the Stardrops and don't get it too wet. I cleaned the kitchen carpet(!) in a rented flat this way and it worked really effectively. I've also cleaned a mucky sofa and armchair with fixed covers.”
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How to remove stains on a carpet
So you've fumbled your mug of tea and watched with horror as your delicious brew hits the carpet (hey, it's happened to the best of us). What happens now?
Alice Lynch recommends: "It is generally best to tackle stains before they dry. However, if the stain is wet and there is excess liquid that has not soaked into the fabric then try to remove as much excess as possible with a dry kitchen towel or cloth, but avoid rubbing it into the fabric and potentially causing a bigger stain."
But of course not all stains are created equal, so how do you tackle difficult stains on the carpet?
Red wine: Argh, the horror of a glass of red splattering across a cream carpet! The first thing to remember is not to panic - red wine stains can be successfully cleaned up.
Start by grabbing some absorbent cloths and blotting as much of the spilled wine as possible. Once you have done this, saturate the affected area with a specialist cleaner, such as Wine Away Stain Remover, which comes highly recommended by many cleaning specialists. Let it sit for a few minutes as directed and then blot the stain until it disappears. Remove any excess residue with a damp cloth.
Alternatively, try mixing a generous squirt of washing up liquid and two tablespoons of white vinegar to two cups of warm water. Using a clean white cloth or sponge, dab the offending stain, working from the outside towards the centre of the spillage. Vacuum once dry. If the stain is still there, mix up a paste of baking soda and a small amount of water, spread generously over the stain, leave overnight and vacuum when dry.
Coffee: Just like red wine, the key to tackling coffee stains is blotting as much liquid as you can before it has a chance to really soak in. Treat the area with lukewarm water, taking care to dab and not rub, before blotting the excess liquid again. This may be enough to get rid of the stain, but if it’s still there, try a carpet shampoo or another suitable cleaning product. Follow the directions carefully and remember to keep blotting to absorb any excess moisture.
Mud: The best thing to do is to let the mud dry and then put the vacuum cleaner to work. If you’re still left with muddy stains after vacuuming, mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of warm water. Using a clean cloth, sponge the stain with the solution, blotting with absorbent cloths as you go. Keep alternating between sponging and blotting until the stain has gone.
Ink: Your heart may sink when you see multicoloured streaks left behind by errant felt-tipped pens, but luckily water-based ink is a doddle to clean from carpets. Just put a teaspoon of laundry detergent into a bowl of warm water and keep dabbing the stain until it goes. This often works without the detergent.
If you’re faced with stains caused by permanent markers, never fear. Just half fill a spray bottle with warm water, add a tablespoon of ammonia, spray from 20cm away and blot with a damp cloth. Afterwards, use the above laundry detergent-water mixture to get rid of the ammonia residue.
Oil: Oil on the carpet? Keep blotting with kitchen roll until no more oil is being picked up on the towel. Then dab some rubbing alcohol onto the stain with a clean cloth, continuing to blot as you go. If this stain is proving particularly stubborn, sponging a small amount of washing up liquid mixed with water directly onto the oil should do the trick. Rinse soap residue away with a wet sponge and allow to dry. Easy peasy.
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