What is the cheapest way to clean your carpet?

Keeping your carpets clean is crucial for maintaining a healthy and inviting home. However, professional carpet cleaning services can be expensive.

In this post, I’ll explore the different types of carpets, and effective cleaning methods, and then reveal the cheapest way to clean your carpet.

When we brought our house, we asked everyone that came to our house to take off their shoes at the door, we did this because we had cream carpets and wanted to keep it as clean as possible, not only to look nice but wanted to ensure that the carpet lasted a long time.

Fast forward a few years and after having a couple of children, the carpet is still clean, but could definitely do with a deep clean, but the cost of getting in a professional carpet cleaner isn’t cheap, so we have been looking at ways to clean our carpet without ruining it.

Understanding Different Types of Carpet:

We know that carpets come in various materials, each with its own characteristics, cost and cleaning requirements. 

Before attempting to clean your carpet it’s important to understand know what your carpet is made as this is essential for choosing the right cleaning method.

Nylon carpets 

Nylon carpets are designed to be durable and will usually be laid in areas where there is going to be a lot of traffic.

Polyester carpets: 

Polyester Carpets are stain-resistant and should be easy to clean

While Polyester carpets can be used anywhere in the house, they are particularly well-suited for children’s rooms due to their stain-resistant properties.

Olefin (polypropylene) carpets 

Affordable and resistant to stains;

If you find that your house suffers from moisture and dampness, these carpets are the perfect choice due to their resistant properties to these elements.

They are made for practicality, so don’t expect them to be soft to the touch or luxurious.

Wool carpets

Luxurious but delicate; 

If you’re considering buying wool carpets and you have children, it’s important to note that wool fibres can be more prone to staining than synthetic fibres. 

Wool carpets do however have natural soil and stain resistance to some extent, and prompt treatment of spills and stains can help mitigate any potential issues.

Methods for Cleaning Carpets: 

To maintain clean carpets, several cleaning methods can be employed:

Vacuuming:

Regular vacuuming is essential for removing dirt and debris; 

It sounds silly, but many of us, me included don’t pay much attention to properly cleaning the carpets, we get our vacuum cleaner and go backwards and forwards a few times, making sure that the carpet is clean or any dirt 

What we are doing here is just removing the top layer of dirt as we aren’t using the vacuum cleaner to its full potential.

To get a thorough clean we need to prepare the room by clearing it off any obstacles such as toys, small furniture, or loose objects and removing any lightweight or delicate items from the area to prevent accidental damage to the cleaner.

Then of course there is the vacuum cleaner itself, make sure that the filter is clean so that there is proper airflow through it, and ensure that isn’t full and its rolls are free of any hair, which seems to be a common occurrence and in our house and I often find myself having to get a pair of scissors to the rollers to remove my wife’s hair.

Paying attention to high-traffic areas, making sure that you do several passes over the area.to remove embedded dirt and debris.

Vacuuming should be done a minimum of two times a week.

Spot cleaning:

Pay attention to the visible stains or spots on the carpet using appropriate spot-cleaning techniques. Blot the stain gently with a clean cloth or paper towel, starting from the outer edges and moving inward. Avoid rubbing the stain, as it can push it deeper into the fibres.

Steam cleaning:

Steam cleaning is a great way to deep clean your carpets as it penetrates the carpet fibres, loosening dirt, and stains. 

The steam cleaners that you can buy will usually have specific attachments for cleaning your carpets.

It is always worth testing the steam cleaner in an area that can’t be seen to check for any adverse reactions or colour fading.   

Professional carpet cleaning services: 

If you feel that none of the above is going to remove those stubborn stains and you have now got to the point of considering bringing a professional carpet cleaning service, make sure that they are reputable, check their review and get the opinions of people that you trust.

Other things to consider include:

• Any certifications and training that they might have
• What services do they offer
• What equipment do they use and their method of cleaning
• Their price
• Whether they are insured 
• Check whether the solutions they use are child and pet friendly

The Cheapest Way to Clean Your Carpet

Depending on the carpet you choose in your home, it is going to cost you a lot of money when you also factor in the underlay and having it laid, if it isn’t included in the price.

For that reason, it’s only right that you are going to want to have it last for longer than a couple of years and proper cleaning and maintenance goes some way of ensuring that you get many years of use.

Cleaning your carpet doesn’t have to break the bank of course. 

Consider these cost-effective methods:

• DIY carpet cleaning solutions: Using homemade cleaning solutions with common household items.

• Renting carpet cleaning equipment from DIY stores

• Carpet cleaning with baking soda and vinegar: try on a discrete area first

Conclusion 

By understanding the different types of carpets, employing suitable cleaning methods, and using cost-effective techniques, you can keep your carpets clean without emptying your wallet. Regular maintenance is key to extending the lifespan of your carpets and maintaining a healthy living environment.

If you have any carpet cleaning tips, let us know in the comments.