Basic carpet cleaning is one thing, but how do you handle cleaning a heavily soiled carpet?
In this guide to cleaning heavily soiled carpets, we share the best way to clean a carpet rife with dirt and stains, and we also provide many carpet cleaning tips that’ll help you achieve a clean carpet with minimal effort.
Key Takeaways
First, vacuum the carpet to remove dirt and other loose particles from the fibers. Next, clean the carpet with carpet shampoo or a homemade cleaning solution.
After cleaning the entire carpet, rinse it thoroughly to remove any soapy residue. Allow the carpet to dry for 24-48 hours. Afterward, give it one final vacuum. It’s as simple as that!
How to Clean Heavily Soiled Carpet
Step One: Vacuum
Before you can attack the deep carpet stains, vacuum up any loose dirt and debris from the carpet fibers.
A standard vacuum cleaner should suffice; just ensure it won’t potentially damage the carpet.
Go over the entire carpet twice. Vacuum horizontally first, then vertically. This will ensure no loose particles are present when you start cleaning.
Step Two: Apply Carpet Cleaning Solution
Use a carpet cleaning product that won’t discolor, shrink, or make the carpet material brittle. For example, if your carpet is made of wool, stick with carpet cleaners that are certified WoolSafe.
Because you’re dealing with a heavily stained carpet, it requires deep rather than spot cleaning. For thorough cleaning, we suggest using a clean cloth to blot out tough stains.
Yes, blotting will take some time, especially if the carpet is heavily soiled, but this way you keep your carpet pile from getting damaged.
Whatever you do, don’t try to scrub tough stains out. Scrubbing may remove stains from a carpet, but it can also damage the fibers.
Once the carpet looks better, you can move on to the next step.
Step Three: Rinse the Carpet
Rinsing the carpet is essential because it removes the dirty, soapy liquid from the fibers. If thorough rinsing isn’t done, you’ll likely need to clean your carpet again later to eliminate any remaining soapy residue.
When you begin rinsing the carpet, it may temporarily darken but don’t worry—its original color will return once fully dried.
It’s best to rinse the carpet outside to avoid making a mess inside your home.
Step Four: Let the Carpet Dry
Once the carpet has been thoroughly rinsed, let it dry for several hours, either outdoors or indoors. If you don’t allow enough time for drying, the carpet will be susceptible to mold growth.
Also, if you’re letting the carpet dry outdoors, make sure it’s in an area that’s free of dirt and debris. It should also be away from direct sunlight, as this can over-dry the carpet, resulting in discoloration and weakened fibers.
Step Five: Vacuum Again
One last vacuuming will remove any new dirt from the carpet. Yes, dirt can accumulate on a carpet while it’s drying, but in most cases, it’s easy to remove.
Cleaning Tips for a Heavily Soiled Carpet
Try Carpet Shampoo Alternatives
If you’ve chosen to clean a carpet by hand, you can use white vinegar or baking soda to remove deep stains. These alternative cleaners are preferred by those who want to stay away from carpet cleaning products that are rich in chemicals.
White vinegar can deep clean carpet in no time. Chocolate stains, wine stains, ink stains, pet urine stains—it can tackle them all! Thoroughly rinse your carpet afterward so it doesn’t have that vinegary smell.
Baking soda can clean the carpet too, but it’s usually used in combination with another cleaning agent.
You sprinkle some on the carpet and let it sit. Then you vacuum it up. It may not remove the whole stain but it’ll reduce it.
Steam Clean
Using a steam cleaner is an effective method for thoroughly cleaning your carpet. The machine heats the heavily soiled areas, and then it removes the dirty liquid..
Even the most basic steamers can remove most stains from carpet, but commercial-grade carpet steamers are even better.
However, this is one of the carpet cleaning methods that can do more harm than good, so you need to be extra careful when using a steamer.
Try Bonnet Cleaning
To bonnet-clean a rug, you’ll need a special carpet-cleaning machine. This machine uses a solution-soaked pad to wipe away dirt and restore that new carpet appeal.
However, this may not be the right cleaning method for your rug, as it’s pretty intense. Therefore, if your rug is made of wool, silk, or another fine material, use a different cleaning method.
Try Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning is the best cleaning method for those who don’t want to get their rug wet.
Special chemicals break down deep stains, making them easier to remove. And like other methods we’ve discussed, dry cleaning can restore the carpet’s natural look and feel.
When to Get Professional Carpet Cleaning
If your carpet is heavily soiled due to infrequent cleaning, consider hiring a professional cleaning service.
Professional carpet cleaning services get better results than DIY carpet cleaners, and they can also provide tips that will make regular cleaning easier.
A professional carpet cleaning company will charge $100-$500 to make an extremely dirty carpet look new again, but the price you’ll pay is largely determined by:
- How much work is required
- How long it takes to deliver a proper cleaning
- The type of rug being cleaned
- The type of cleaning being done
Final Thoughts
To clean a heavily soiled rug, you’ll need to vacuum up any loose dirt and debris. After you do this, apply the cleaning solution you’ve chosen.
Once the stains have been addressed, rinse the rug thoroughly. Finally, let it dry for 24-48 hours.
Lastly, if you don’t feel comfortable with DIY cleaning, use a commercial carpet cleaning service that has a proven track record.
