How to clean a carpet at home
A simple routine for keeping carpet clean in a Hong Kong home, with or without a machine, and how to avoid the mistakes that cause lasting damage.
You can do a lot to look after a carpet yourself, and most of it comes down to vacuuming. Here's a routine that works in a Hong Kong home, followed by what to do when it needs more.
Vacuum more than you think you need to
Most of the soil in a carpet is dry dust and grit, and grit wears down fibres each time someone walks on it. Vacuuming removes it before that happens.
- Busy areas: aim for a couple of times a week
- Quieter rooms: about once a week
- Homes with pets: more often, especially when they're shedding
Go slowly, in overlapping lines, and in two directions when you can. Fast passes look productive but leave more behind. Check the brush bar now and then, since hair tangled around it stops it working properly.
Deal with spills straight away
Blot with a clean white cloth, working from the outside towards the middle. Don't rub. See how to remove carpet stains for specific advice.
Freshen with a light wash
For a small, lightly soiled area, you can wash by hand:
- Vacuum the area thoroughly first.
- Mix a few drops of mild, clear dish detergent in warm water. Too much soap leaves a sticky residue.
- Test on a hidden spot and wait until it dries.
- Sponge gently, keeping the carpet damp and not wet.
- Rinse with a clean, damp cloth, more than once.
- Blot with dry towels, pressing firmly.
- Dry using a fan, air-conditioning or a dehumidifier.
Avoid washing large areas by hand. It's hard to rinse them properly, and it's easy to leave the backing wet.
Rented machines
A rented or home carpet cleaner is useful for a refresh. The most common mistakes are too much detergent and too few drying passes. Use less product than you think you need, finish with passes using clean water, and go over the carpet several times using suction alone. Home machines generally have less suction than professional ones, so allow more time for drying.
Baking soda and other home remedies
Baking soda may help mild odours if you sprinkle it on, leave it for a few hours, and vacuum thoroughly. It doesn't remove dirt. Vinegar has its uses but can affect some fibres and dyes, so test it first and avoid it on wool and natural fibres unless the care label says otherwise.
Things to avoid:
- Bleach, which removes colour permanently
- Strong household cleaners that aren't made for carpets
- Hot water or steam on wool, silk or unknown fibres
- Over-wetting anything, particularly in humid weather
Drying in Hong Kong's climate
This is what catches people out. With average humidity at 78% across the year, a carpet that dries well in a dry climate may stay damp for much longer here. On humid days, keep windows closed and use air-conditioning or a dehumidifier, along with a fan. Leaving a carpet damp is how a cleaning job turns into a mould problem.
When to call someone
If the carpet feels gritty after vacuuming, smells stale, or looks grey in walkways, home methods have probably done all they can. We explain the difference in professional vs DIY cleaning, and you can read about our carpet deep cleaning for carpets that have gone a long time without proper attention.
