After you’ve already checked out the traditional carpet cleaning methods described in our blog, you may still need something different. I often get a question – “But how do I clean the carpet without water?” There are many reasons why you may opt for water-less cleaning. For example, you may have a carpet that’s made of sisal, jute, or silk fibers.
These delicate materials are hydrophobic. Cleaning the carpet without water will also minimize the chances of mold and mildew development. In this post, I’ll list the common methods to clean carpets with common tools and without water.
Vacuum Cleaning the Carpet
Vacuuming is the first and most important step in any regular carpet cleaning. Depending on the material and carpet location and use you may need to vacuum clean your carpet from daily to once a week. More seldom vacuum cleaning will result in dust and dirt buildup in the carpet fibers. It’s very important not to neglect this step as vacuum cleaning is the best waterless method to remove dirt.
Regular vacuum cleaning will also remove the allergens that are trapped in the carpet fibers. The more often you vacuum your carpet the better will be the air in your home. As easy as it may seem, vacuum cleaning has its own secrets that will help you to effectively do the job.
Prepare the carpet and the vacuum
Take your time to remove all the small objects that may be laying on the carpet and are too large to be sucked in. These may be toys, coins, paperclips, or other small things. It’s better to remove them because if they are caught in the vacuum they may cause serious damage to the machine.
Prepare the vacuum cleaner. Make sure that the bag is empty because when it’s full the suction power is close to none.
The slower the better
Rushing is the last thing you want to do when vacuum cleaning the carpet. Take your time and move the vacuum slowly back and forth along the fibers. By doing this, you will give it enough time to pick up all the dust and the suction process will be adequate.
Make use of different vacuum hose attachments. Some of them are created for upholstery, hard-to-reach spaces under the sofa, and so on. If you need to vacuum a smaller area for example stairs, you can remove the head of the vacuum and use only the end of the hose.
Give extra attention to the high-traffic areas. Naturally, stairs, living rooms, and hallways always collect more dust. Depending on how active your house is you may need to vacuum clean them every 2-3 days or even daily.
When you have finished vacuuming, empty the vacuum bag and throw out the trash into a sealed trash bag. This will help to preserve the vacuum cleaner for future use and prevent the dust and bacteria from spreading out.
How to Choose the Best Vacuum Cleaner for Your Carpet?
Regular cleaning is not enough, you should also choose the right type of vacuum cleaner for your carpet. Some vacuum cleaners have beater bars attached to them while others don’t.
Depending on the carpet material you may need to stay away from using the beater bar. For example, it shouldn’t be used on carpets made of natural fibers such as silk and wool, and also on looped pile carpets.
There are a few main types of vacuum cleaners:
- Vacuum with a canister. This is the most commonly used vacuum cleaner that you drag behind yourself. The good thing about it is that it has a long and flexible hose. Plus it is budget-friendly and cheap.
- Upright vacuum cleaner. It’s perfect for large areas. You simply push it in front of yourself and don’t have to drag or bend down to reach the floor. It’s very convenient for larger homes.
- Cordless vacuum cleaner. This is a popular modern type of vacuum that has a battery. Due to this battery power limit, it may not be enough for large areas, so it all depends on your needs.
Check out the table below to see which vacuum type suits your carpet type.
| Carpet Type | The recommended type of vacuum cleaner |
| Cut pile | Vacuum with a canister that has a suction-only rug tool |
| Frisee | Upright or with a canister plus brush that has adjustable height |
| Woven | Vacuum with a canister that has a suction-only rug tool |
| Wool loop | Vacuum with a canister and a specialty tool |
| Wool pile | Upright or with a canister that has an extra soft-bristle brush |
| Silk | Vacuum with a canister that has a suction-only carpet tool |
| Sisal | Vacuum with a canister and a shag rake tool |
| Shag | Vacuum with canister and a shag rake tool |
| Loop | Upright or with a canister and an extra soft bristle brush |
Clean Carpet without Water Using Brushes and Carpet Rakes
Carpet rakes and carpet brushes are the best mechanical methods to clean the carpet without water and manually remove the dust from the carpet. They are widely available online on Amazon and you can choose the handiest one based on your carpet design. These instruments are great for the cut pile carpets, be careful when using them on the looped piles, as some of the piles may be pulled off.
Choose a carpet brush that has a non-slip grip and bristles that don’t leave scratches. Brushing the carpet is a great step to remove larger particles before vacuum cleaning or if you need to collect some minor dust. Go for the short and stiff bristles, they are the most effective.
Carpet rakes are my favorite grooming method. They have fewer bristles compared to the carpet brush and are suitable for cleaning softer types of carpets.
Carpet rakes will help to remove the dirt and return the initial fluffiness to your carpet. Moreover, they have adjustable handles so you can extend them to the desired length. No need to bend down for the cleaning as doing it with the carpet brushes.
There are many popular carpet rakes available on the market, for any budget! This one is my favorite:
Grandi Groom Carpet Rake at Amazon
Baking Soda for Carpet Cleaning
Baking soda is a universal cleaning solution and carpets are no exception. I often use it to make my carpet fresh and fluffy. Yes, it has a lot of benefits that you will not even suspect. Baking soda is not a strong chemical solution, so it is safe to use with all types of carpets. Plus it is non-allergenic so you don’t have to worry about inhaling the fumes while cleaning.
Here’s what the cleaning process looks like.
First of all, before you take the bacon soda you should remove all the visible dirt from the carpet. Vacuum clean the floors and prepare them for application.
Baking soda should be equally spread on the carpet. You have to make sure that it covers all the piles entirely. Brush your carpet gently. After that, leave it on the carpet overnight – nothing bad will happen.
After the time has passed, remove all the baking soda and dirt from the carpet with a vacuum cleaner. You will notice that the fibers became fresh and fluffy. It does miracles!
Removing Odor with Baking Soda
Baking soda is also a great way to absorb the odors, inexpensive, and completely natural. The baking soda powder particles penetrate deep into the fibers of the carpet, beyond the edges, and base of the carpet. It helps to absorb and neutralize the smell.
- Move the furniture away from the carpet. Remove the furniture from the carpet in order to have the entire surface to work on.
- Vacuum clean the carpet first to remove large dirt, debris, or pet hair.
- After that, add baking soda – sprinkle a lot of baking soda on the carpet, directly from the box on the carpet. Make sure you sprinkle it on all the areas.
- Then, brush the baking soda on the carpet with your fingers, and then move to the next area. Set aside a few hours, or preferably leave it on the carpet overnight, to let the baking soda consume the smell.
- Vacuum the carpet. You’re done!
Chemical Carpet Cleaners
If you have decided to use a non-water cleaning method of steam cleaning it’s also not a good choice. It also includes water which will require drying after the cleaning is finished. Chemical carpet cleaning instead doesn’t require the use of water.
There are many solutions available online and I recommend choosing the ones that are non-toxic and safe to use around pets and kids. As with all types of cleaning, remember to ventilate the room well and use the protective equipment face mask, and gloves.
If you wish to clean the carpet completely without water, a dry carpet cleaner is the best choice. This is a top-rated best seller on Amazon, as it is safe to use on all carpet types including silk and wool.
It’s better to use a special kit because it includes everything you need for the cleaning. This kit includes a dry carpet cleaner, pre-mist, and a soft brush that will help to clean all the carpet types. This dry carpet cleaner is also safe to use around pets and kids. Moreover, you can use it with all types of vacuum cleaners.
Capture Carpet Dry Cleaning Kit At Amazon
One kit will be enough to clean an area of up to 400 ft.²
To clean the carpet with this product just follow these six simple steps:
- First of all, spray some pre-mist on the carpet to soften the heavy dirt.
- After that apply some dry carpet cleaner to the area that you have misted.
- Give your carpet a brush to make sure that the solution penetrates the fibers.
- Wait for around 30 minutes for the carpet cleaner to sit in.
- Vacuum the carpet to remove the remains of the cleaning solution and the dirt.
- All done – your carpet is dry and fluffy and clean.
Alternative Chemical Carpet Cleaning (Water Involved)
Carpet shampoo by Carpet Miracle is my favorite carpet cleaner and deodorizer. It is a natural cleaning method that has a non-toxic full formula enriched with essential oils. This solution has a pleasant smell and is safe for the environment. It has a pleasant mint smell that will leave your carpets not only clean but smells incredible.
The product removes all types of stains – pet urine stains, coffee, and tea stains, and many more.
Plus it is universal and you can use it not only on carpets but on home furniture and car upholstery.
It is made in the USA so the quality is guaranteed. What’s more, the manufacturer donates 10% of their product price to the animals who need help.
Conclusion
As you see from the article above, there are so many ways to clean the carpet which don’t include the water. These methods will allow you to use the carpet right away after the cleaning, you won’t have to wait until the carpet dries or worry that some mold may develop.
It’s completely up to you which method you choose to clean the carpet without water, but always remember to check it out on the inconspicuous area first and see how your carpet fibers will react. It’s a result, you will have a clean fluffy, and brand-new-looking carpet.