How to Clean Carpet and Get Rid of Stains, Smells, and Other Messes

Step 1: Gently remove any physical debris like crumbs, making sure you don’t mash the mess further into the carpet.

Step 2: Use a clean cloth to blot and remove any wetness. Brown prefers using a white cloth towel that is free of dye. She avoids paper towels which can leave behind fibers as they break up.

Step 3: Spray the foam cleaner directly onto the stain and allow it to sit for a minute or so. Brown prefers foam carpet cleaners because they bind to the carpet fibers without saturating the pad below the stain.

Step 4: Blot the area with another clean cloth until the stain is removed. Repeat the above steps as needed.

With this cleaning method, she’s been able to remove red wine, grease, blood, tar, cranberry juice, mashed strawberries, and coffee from all types of carpet, area rugs, and even upholstery. Her go-to product is colorfast and she’s never had an issue with it harming carpet fibers or causing any discoloration. Still, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Test the product on an inconspicuous area of carpeting before incorporating it with your other cleaning products.

What’s the best way to clean pet stains from carpet?

For pet stains, Brown relies on the above method, but finishes with an enzymatic spray with a neutral pH to help eliminate odors and deodorize the carpet. For this, she likes to use a product like OdoBan. It’s a concentrate that you’ll need to transfer to a spray bottle and dilute with water, per the directions on the bottle. Spay enough to cover the affected area, but don’t saturate the carpet. She says there’s no sticky residue left behind, and when your carpet dries it will look—and smell—as good as new.

How do you clean carpets naturally?

Your fist instinct when cleaning your carpet without any chemicals may be to reach for some hot water. But doing so isn’t the best idea. Saturating your carpet with anything, especially water, may penetrate deep into the carpet and into the padding beneath it. This can be tricky to dry without professional equipment, making you more susceptible to mold and mildew, which can be costly to remedy.

For a natural carpet cleaning solution, Brown says that club soda and white vinegar are good options. When she hosts a party she often has a spray bottle of club soda and a white terrycloth towel handy for any unexpected spills. She suggests lightly spraying the stained area with club soda and blotting it dry. Remember, when it comes to dealing with stains, time is always working against you. The longer a stain sits, the more it sets and the harder it will be to remove.

How do you clean a carpet with baking soda?

Because baking soda is an alkaline substance it can break down grease and absorb odors. To deal with a mess, sprinkle Arm & Hammer Carpet & Room Extra Strength Odor Eliminator directly on the carpet stain and leave for one to three hours as it works. Then, vacuum it up. If you do try this technique, make sure to remove the vacuum’s filters and rinse with a water-vinegar solution, and air-dry before replacing. “Baking soda can be very bad for the longevity of your vacuum cleaner,” Brown explains. “It easily gets trapped in the machine’s filter, causing it to be less effective.” She also cautions against deodorizing powders for the same reason. 

How do you know if you need professional carpet cleaning?

You can probably DIY carpet clean if you have a small stain, or recently installed a new carpet that only needs maintaining. However, if you’ve recently moved, have been negligent with the vacuum, or have incurred pet accidents for years, the most economical carpet cleaning solution for a big mess or tough stains is to call a professional carpet cleaner, Brown admits. Depending where you live, you can often have a few rooms cleaned for around $100 (about what you’ll spend renting one of those machines). With that, you’re getting a skilled expert and their professional equipment including steam cleaners, moisture readers, and powerful fans that will speed up the drying process. “Beyond that, you’ll also have their insurance protecting your carpet,” she says. “So, if anything goes wrong, it’s on them to repair or replace it, not you.”