How to Clean Any Type of Carpet

Have you ever done your best effort to clean your carpet and rugs only to find that the problem gets worse?

Do the hairs of your rug shrink from excessive heat or stains just spread and make them look ugly? It might be time to learn how to clean any type of carpet properly to avoid these common mistakes and achieve lasting results.

That’s because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cleaning carpets and rugs. Take it from a professional carpet cleaner with over a decade of experience.

In this blog post, we will show you exactly how to go about cleaning these specific types of carpets and provide insights on how to clean any type of carpet effectively:

• Cotton
• Jute
• Sisal
• Silk
• Viscose

…and without spending a lot of money, you will bring out the natural beauty of your carpet and prolong its life.

Important before cleaning:

• Test each of the methods presented in advance in an inconspicuous area of the carpet, especially when learning how to clean any type of carpet, to avoid any discoloration or bleaching during stain removal.
• Do not allow the stain to penetrate deeper into the fabric. Therefore, in any case, start by dabbing instead of rubbing!
• Always work from the outside to the inside, from the edge of the stain towards the middle.

How to Clean a Cotton, Jute, or Sisal Rug

The carpets in cotton, sisal, or jute offer — like a carpet of animal fibers — some advantages.

Cotton is particularly valued for its durable and soft texture. A cotton rug offers almost the same benefits as a wool rug. To maintain the beauty of these carpets, it’s important to know how to clean any type of carpet properly, ensuring their longevity and appearance are preserved.

Sisal rugs are really versatile. Due to their high resilience, sisal rugs can be placed almost anywhere. Whether under the dining table, in the kitchen, or in the hallway — a sisal rug looks great in every room and creates a natural ambiance.

Since sisal rugs are very sturdy and durable, they meet almost all your expectations. However, it’s important to remember that moisture can damage sisal rugs. So, avoid placing them in the bathroom and cleaning them with lots of water. If you’re looking for tips on how to clean any type of carpet, especially delicate materials like sisal, it’s essential to use minimal moisture and gentle cleaning methods to preserve their quality.

Sisal rugs stand out in an exceptional way with their high durability and easy cleaning — in case of everyday soiling. In this case, full suction is enough for dust and dirt to disappear. It is a little more difficult with spilled liquids or other stains.

In general, we can say that carpets made of plant fibers can be properly treated with alkaline solutions. So you can use basic soap or gall soap for cleaning. If you’re wondering how to clean any type of carpet, it’s important to adjust your cleaning approach based on the material. For dyed fibers, the use of alkaline bases should be tested in an inconspicuous location to avoid color fading.

How to Clean a Silk and Viscose Carpet

Until now, we did not clean silk and viscose rugs, as these materials are very sensitive. We recommend that you have the stains cleaned by an expert.

If you’re wondering how to clean any type of carpet, especially delicate ones like silk or viscose, it’s important to avoid using a vacuum cleaner. Instead, use a manual brush with natural bristles to remove surface dirt.

With a carpet brush, you should then brush the carpet in the direction of the pile. Indeed, it is only if all the silk fibers are aligned homogeneously in the direction of the pile that their natural shine emerges. If you’re wondering how to clean any type of carpet, brushing it in the direction of the pile is a key step to restore its freshness.

To recognize the direction of the pile, just stroke your carpet with your hand. If the hair is soft, it means you stroked it in the direction of the hair. If the hair looks rough, it means you’ve stroked it against the grain.

Regularly brush your silk carpet. Not only will its shine be preserved, but normal soiling will also be removed. In the case of a superficial stain, such as dust, it may be sufficient to hit the carpet on the outside.

If you’re unsure about how to clean any type of carpet, many results appear on the Internet when you search for “How to clean synthetic fiber rugs.” You’ll find advice like: “This cleaner can be used,” “When cleaning, you need a lot of water,” or “Just put your carpet in the washing machine!”

Bad information over bad information — how can you figure out which is right?

Synthetic fibers include polyacrylic, polyester, and polypropylene. These materials are particularly popular for carpets because they are sturdy and require little maintenance. If you’re unsure how to clean any type of carpet, knowing the type of fibers in your carpet can help guide you in the right direction.

Polyacrylic, polyester, and polypropylene carpets are particularly strong, dirt-resistant, and have a water-repellent structure. Thus, they are particularly suitable for rooms in which rugs are put to the test, such as in the entrance, hallway, bathroom, or kitchen.

Synthetic fiber rugs not only stand out for their high resistance but also for their unique designs and patterns. So, they are not only practical, they also look pretty. If you’re unsure of how to clean any type of carpet, synthetic fiber rugs are generally easy to maintain with proper care.

Viscose — also called rayon — is also a synthetic fiber, but it is more sensitive than polyacrylic, polyester, or polypropylene.

Synthetic fiber rugs tolerate water but don’t like it

Although synthetic fiber rugs have a water repellent structure, this does not mean that polyacrylic, polyester, and polypropylene rugs should be soaked in water during cleaning. While not as sensitive as, say, a sisal rug, washing with plenty of water is not part of what a synthetic fiber rug prefers. If you’re wondering how to clean any type of carpet, it’s important to note that too much humidity can make a synthetic carpet felt.

Synthetic fiber rugs are no friend to heat

When cleaning the carpet made of synthetic fibers, you should — as already stated — not use too much water. If your carpet does need to get wet, however, please do not use a hairdryer or similar drying equipment. This is because synthetic fiber rugs contain chemical fibers that can melt from too much heat and lose their shape. When you’re unsure of the best cleaning method, researching how to clean any type of carpet can offer helpful insights on maintaining the longevity and appearance of your rug.

Avoid the Washing Machine

It is more and more often offered on the internet to simply put the carpet in the washing machine.

But synthetic fiber rugs cannot be washed in the washing machine!

The latex layer could dissolve and the carpet could suffer long-term damage.

Who doesn’t know this: A little careless moment and you have a filthy stain on the carpet.

Especially in rooms like the kitchen or living room, the causes can be various. It can happen on a quiet evening where the glass of red wine spills and you wonder how to remove red wine stains from the carpet. Learning how to clean any type of carpet can save you a lot of trouble in these moments, helping you tackle even the toughest stains.

Need help with carpet cleaning? Our professionals at Accents in Cleaning will be happy to assist you.