6 Ways To Clean Your Carpet Naturally (Updated 2020)

How to clean your carpet naturally? A spotless and fresh looking carpet can make your home look cleaner and more inviting. However, due to the combination of children, pets, and heavy traffic at home, keeping your carpet clean can be a great challenge. Although there are various commercial carpets cleaners available in the market, using them can not only leave your house stinking for many hours but can discolor or damage your carpets, sofas, and curtains.

The best way to keep your carpets clean is to opt for natural methods. Using natural remedies to clean your carpets will not help keep your environment free of chemicals, but will also be easy on your pocket. Take a look at these natural methods of carpet cleaning listed in this guide below.

Ways to Clean your Carpet Naturally

#1: Vacuuming
One of the best natural methods to keep your carpet clean is frequent vacuuming. Vacuuming your carpet helps remove the dirt and sand particles embedded in the carpet and prevents the carpet fibers from splitting or wearing out. Additionally, vacuuming every week helps keep the dust and dirt at bay and prevents the carpet from getting dirty quickly.

Vacuuming to keep the carpet clean is a great option for carpets in high-traffic areas such as living rooms, hallways, or entranceways. However, carpets used in fancy guest parlors or storage rooms are prone to less traffic and require less vacuuming ( once in two weeks). 

#2: Baking Soda
Using baking soda is a good natural remedy to get rid of the funny smell caused due to pet odor, spilled food, or years of foot traffic. Using baking soda to clean your carpets is not only eco-friendly but is also an inexpensive and safe solution for both children and pets. 

Step #1: Vacuum your carpet thoroughly before using baking soda.

Step #2: Sprinkle fresh baking soda liberally on areas that are required to be cleaned. 

Step #3: Use a sponge or dry scrub brush to scrub the baking soda deep into the carpet fibers.

Step #4: Stay off the carpet and allow the soda to sit on the carpet overnight.

Step #5: Vacuum the baking soda the next day.

#3: White Vinegar
White vinegar is a great natural remedy to get rid of tough stains from the carpet, especially those caused due to pets. The deodorizing property of vinegar helps tackle tough stains and keeps the carpet looking clean and fresh. However, when using vinegar for carpet cleaning, it is important that you dilute it with water to help prevent the carpet fibers from getting damaged.

Remember, although the room may smell vinegar when cleaning the carpet, the odor will completely disappear as soon as the carpet dries. As a cleaning solution: Combine an equal quantity of water and vinegar and add it is a carpet steamer.

For carpet and rug spot cleaning: Combine equal quantities of baking soda and liquid soap with vinegar and spray the mixture on stains and allow it to sit for a few hours. Blot with a clean cloth until the stains have disappeared. For effective stain cleaning, it is always best to treat the stains from pet accidents, food, or drink spills as soon as it happens. This will reduce the chances of allowing the stain to set into the carpet fibers.

#4: Borax
Borax contains a naturally occurring mineral that is eco-friendly. Using borax is one of the best natural remedies to clean a stain, liquid spills (coffee, wine, or juices) and neutralize urine odor. 

Step #1: Blot the stain with a clean cloth. This helps lift the stain and prevent it from spreading.

Step #2: Spray ice water on sprinkle borax over the spot.

Step #3: Lay a wet cold cloth over the borax.

Step #4: To allow borax to work into the spot, press the cloth using the curved side of the spoon. 

Step #6: To clean up the borax completely, spray cold water and rinse.

Step #7: To absorb the remaining liquid, place several paper towels over the treated area, and keep a heavy object on them.

Step #8: Remove the paper towels and allow the treated area air dry before vacuuming.

To remove stains with Borax
Combine equal quantities of borax, salt, and vinegar to make a paste. Apply the paste mixture on the carpet stain and rub it into the carpet fibers. Allow it to dry before vacuuming. 

#5: Salt
Using salt is one of the most ways for natural carpet cleaning. Salt contains cleaning and deodorizing agents that will not help your carpet stay clean and unsoiled, but remain smelling fresh. 

To remove grease stains: To get rid of grease stain from the carpet naturally, rub the carpet hard with a mixture made of one part of salt to four parts of rubbing alcohol.

To remove wine stains: Blot all the moisture from the carpet caused due to the spill. Sprinkle the affected area with salt. Allow the salt to sit for about 15- 20 minutes. When the salt absorbs the remaining wine from the carpet, the wine stain will turn pink. Now, clean the complete area with a mixture of 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup vinegar. 

#6: Cornstarch
Using cornstarch for carpet cleaning is one of the best home remedies to extend the life of your carpet and help it look clean and beautiful. Using cornstarch works effectively in soaking grease and oil stains from the carpet naturally. 

To remove Ink Stain: Combine cornstarch with milk to make a paste. Apply this cornstarch paste on the ink stain on the carpet and allow it to dry for a few hours. Now, gently brush off the dried remains and vacuum the carpet for good results.

For Dry Carpet Cleaning: Combine two cups of baking soda with one cup of cornstarch. Sprinkle this mixture on the carpet. Allow it this mixture to sit on the carpet for a few minutes and then vacuum. Always remember not to pile this on the carpet as it may cause the vacuum cleaned to get clogged. 

Natural carpet cleaning remedies are one of the safest and most economical ways to maintain your carpet. Choosing to use natural methods to clean carpets will not only help keep your carpet spotlessly clean and smelling fresh, but will extend the life of your carpet successfully.