Carpet Clean but no Steam
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Ever found yourself in the situation of needing to clean your carpet but didn’t have a steam cleaner? No steam, no problem. Steam cleaners can be costly and inconvenient. There are ways to truly disinfect your carpet without having to run out and rent a steam cleaning machine.
Determine Your Course of Action
In order to get started, you first need to decide which method to use based on the problem. Is this a pet disaster of the excremental type? Did you spill wine or blood? Are you the new owner of a home and cannot even fathom the idea of what could have been done on those carpets before they became yours? Are you needing to disinfect a small area or large one? There are different solutions to different problems.
How to Disinfect Carpet without Steam Cleaner – Heavy Stain Solution
When the stain is small but tough, such as blood or wine, follow this process.
Gather the following items:
- warm water in a bowl or bucket
- several paper or cloth towels
- credit card or thin hard material such as a magazine insert
- small bowl
- dish soap, baking soda, white vinegar and salt
- scrub brush
- vacuum
- fan, if you have one
Then, follow these steps:
- Put on latex gloves for safety if you are dealing with blood or other bodily fluids-safety first!
- If there is liquid or matter beading on the surface, use a credit card, cardboard or other hard thin material to slide under the material or liquid and dispose in a trash bag or container. One of those wallet-cluttering club cards works well here. You can also use a paper towel in combination with the card to capture and then sop up any pooled liquid.
- Once you have stopped anything on the surface from seeping in further, mix a drop of dish soap with a tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of salt. A few drops of vinegar can be added to the mixture but test a small inconspicuous area first. Spread this over the stained area.
- Use the scrub brush to work the paste into the stain.
- Vacuum the area around the stain while the paste does its work.
- Dampen the towel by dabbing in water and then blot the affected area. Keep using a new, clean part of the towel.
- Repeat these steps as needed.
- Once the color has lifted, open windows or turn on a fan pointed at the damp area until dry.
- When the area is dry, vacuum thoroughly.
If you have done your job well, you might find your stained area to be even cleaner than your whole carpet. You may be so impressed with your skills that you need to disinfect the entire room!
Cleaning Larger Areas
Moving into a new home is exciting, but the mystery of wondering who did what and where, can be a little creepy to think about. Even the best kept homes need a good deep cleaning from time to time to maintain good hygiene and a sparkling appearance. A great solution is to disinfect your carpet, keeping it bright and germ-free using these steps (no steam cleaner needed!):
- Pre-treat any stained areas first using the directions above.
- Vacuum the entire carpet area to get rid of hair, dust and debris.
- Combine half a cup baking soda to 30 drops of essential oils in a clean shaker (such as a Parmesan shaker that has gone through the dishwasher). You can also squeeze a slice of lemon in the baking soda as an alternative to essential oil.
- Allow the baking soda to sit for thirty minutes to an hour.
- Vacuum the entire carpet area. The baking soda will actually absorb germs and odors, thereby removing them from the carpet.
How to sanitize carpet without steam cleaner Tricks and Tips
Tip #1: If you have some leftover steam cleaner liquid from a previous occasion, this can be alternated with the paste. Avoid using too much liquid, as the residue can actually leave the carpet a little sticky, causing the stain to reappear over time.
Tip #2: Club soda blotted with a towel can help remove a dark stain.
Tip #3: Add a few drops of vinegar, lemon juice, or essential oils on the last scrub will leave a fresh scent. Other additives that can enhance the disinfectant effects are powdered lavender and ground grapefruit or other citrus peels.
Clean before it’s dirty!
This tip needs its own section because it is so important. To do this, think about preventative actions that might help you avoid carpet cleaning longer. For instance, removing your shoes before entering your house is a great habit to not only keep the dirt outside, but also to leave all the nasty germs beyond your doorstep.
Using scrub rugs to wipe your feet on can also remove most of the dirt before it enters your home if removing shoes outside doesn’t work for you. Finally, don’t wait until the carpet is obviously dingy to clean it. Literally cleaning it before it looks noticeably dirty will create that extra crisp look you want.
Yet Another Solution
Although the whole disinfecting process can be completed with the low tech method described, not everyone has that kind of time. If you still wish to do the job yourself, but need to be efficient, the NEAT steam cleaner by Dupray is a great choice. It is ready for use in seven minutes and goes to a whole other level of disinfecting; it can kill mold, get rid of bedbugs and neutralize viruses, bacteria and other pathogens, nevermind simple dirt and grime. It is easy to use and versatile since it can be used any nearly any type of surface.
Mess Be Gone!
In any home, there are bound to be some messes. Goodness, you might not be living if you never have a mess! The trick is to save time and money by disinfecting your carpet without the need for costly and inconvenient steam cleaners. By following these steps, you can get rid of germs and make your house look like a model home.
Since you use only household items in this DIY, there are no extra trips to the store or worries about finishing in time for your rental agreement. Not only that, but you will be using all natural ingredients with no worries about harsh chemicals left behind in your home. Instead, you get a fresh, clean look to enjoy.
